Zitha Kwinika on Kaizer Chiefs' New Season Tactics

Zitha Kwinika has barely missed a heartbeat this season. Every minute, every tackle, every header – he has been there, anchoring the Kaizer Chiefs defence alongside new partner Inacio Miguel.

Now in his fifth campaign since returning to Naturena, the 32-year-old sounds genuinely energised by what he sees around him.

“I think the team is also coping well with the new coaches and the new season,” he said, speaking to KickOff. “I think we have proven in the games we have played that we… are a different team compared to last season. The style of play, and the structure show there's improvement.”

The shift is tactical as much as it is psychological. Training ground ideas are slowly becoming match-day habits.

“There are new tactics that are being placed and we are trying to get to a certain way of playing that we enjoy. We are getting better as a team.”

Smaller teams, bigger stakes

For years, Chiefs have been haunted by the same storyline: dropped points against so‑called smaller clubs. Title hopes often faded not in the big derbies, but on quiet afternoons against teams fighting for survival.

Kwinika wants that script torn up.

On Wednesday, Amakhosi travel to the Princess Magogo Stadium to face Richards Bay, and the defender made it clear these fixtures now carry the same emotional weight as the Soweto Derby.

“Obviously, Richards Bay is a difficult team to play against, yes, we give them the respect, but we also have our objectives, so we know what we expect and we have prepared well for them,” he said.

“This season, we are in a different mission of saying the games that we need to collect points [from] are such games [against Richards Bay]. We must win these games.”

No dressing it up. No excuses. Win, or watch the season drift.

Chasing momentum, chasing a title

Chiefs’ league drought hangs over every campaign. For coach Da Cruz and his squad, consistency has become the non‑negotiable.

For Kwinika, that consistency is not just about the table; it’s about the dressing-room mindset.

“Obviously, to keep the momentum is for us to get positive results,” he explained. “I think that is the best way to keep the momentum, getting good results, mainly winning games, that’s the only way to keep the momentum going in the environment and the confidence.

“So, I think getting used to winning is important because it just creates an environment of winners and winners get stronger by day.”

Win often enough, and it stops being a surprise. It becomes the standard.

Youth, new faces and a changing core

The veteran defender has also taken note of what is happening in front of him – not just in the backline, but across the squad.

Young talents and recent arrivals are no longer just filling up the bench; they are influencing games.

“The new players are gelling well… to name like your [Langelihle] Phili scored a goal and your [Luke] Baartman, yes, they have been with the team but now getting an opportunity to start games,” Kwinika said.

“That shows we are in the right direction, and most players are understanding what’s required from them.”

A backline mainstay, a refreshed tactical approach, youngsters stepping up, and a renewed ruthlessness towards so‑called smaller opponents – the pieces are being laid out.

Now comes the real test: can Chiefs turn those “must win” games into a habit, and finally turn momentum into silverware?