There’s no revenge in football – Cedric Kaze downplays rivalry before Kaizer Chiefs face Stellenbosch

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has poured cold water on any suggestion that his side will be driven by revenge when they face Stellenbosch FC in the Nedbank Cup last-32 clash on Wednesday.

Amakhosi head to the DHL Stadium with unfinished business against Stellies, having already been knocked out by the Western Cape outfit this season in the Carling Knockout Cup. 

That round-of-16 exit came via penalties, a result that further entrenched what has become one of the most intriguing modern rivalries in the local game.

Yet for Kaze, the narrative of payback has no place in his preparation.

“It’s true that Stellenbosch have eliminated us from the Carling Knockout Cup but I thought we were the better team that day and unfortunately we lost on penalties,” Kaze said.

“But there’s no revenge in football, it’s just another game that we need to win and try to have a good performance.”

The Chiefs tactician believes recent meetings between the two sides have been defined by quality rather than emotion, with both teams pushing each other to higher levels. 

In his view, that competitiveness is a healthy sign for South African football as a whole.

“The past seasons have brought very good challenges between the two teams and we have had very good football performances on the field,” he added.

“I think that’s how you see that South African football is growing, because if teams that are so-called big teams are playing like this and challenging each other, then the league grows.”

Chiefs arrive at the cup tie encouraged by their recent league form, but mindful that cup football often demands a different mindset. 

With Stellenbosch having already shown they can frustrate and outlast Amakhosi, Kaze is keen for his side to focus on execution rather than emotion.

The Nedbank Cup has historically offered Chiefs a pathway to silverware when league ambitions become complicated, and Wednesday’s fixture represents another opportunity to assert progress under the current technical team. 

For Kaze, however, that progress will be measured not by settling old scores, but by delivering a composed, winning performance on the night.

As the rivalry continues to grow, Chiefs and Stellenbosch appear set for another finely balanced encounter — one that will be decided by clarity of thought rather than thoughts of revenge.