‘When we face so-called smaller teams we don’t match their resilience and hunger,’ said the Amakhosi striker.
Kaizer Chiefs striker Ashley Du Preez believes a difference in mentality when playing in the Nedbank Cup is what has contributed to Amakhosi’s success there, in contrast to another dismal campaign in the Betway Premiership.
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Chiefs will play Marumo Gallants in the Premiership on Saturday at FNB Stadium, with the club still in danger of missing out on a place in the MTN8 for the second season in a row.
Chiefs close to Nedbank glory
Tunisian head coach Nasreddine Nabi has come in for the current campaign and has led Chiefs into a Nedbank Cup final, where they will play Orlando Pirates on May 10.
Chiefs won at Stellenbosch in the quarterfinals, and even beat Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals, with Du Preez netting the winning goal.
Amakhosi, however, are without a win in their last five league games.
“For me the difference is our mentality, in how we approach cup games and league games,” said Du Preez on Thursday at the Kaizer Chiefs Village.
“We need to balance it and go into each game with the same mentality. We have been doing great in the cup and now we want to win silverware. (But) The main focus is not supposed to only be on cup games. We also want to win league games.
“When we go to play against Sundowns or Pirates we are motivated and want to win. But when we face so-called smaller teams we don’t match their resilience and hunger.”
Du Preez has five goals in 21 appearances in all competitions for Chiefs this season, while also spending a couple of months out injured at the start of this year.
His return has seen him net twice coming off the bench, in a 1-0 league win over Magesi and most recently in that Nedbank Cup semifinal victory over Sundowns.
‘An amazing feeling’
“It is what every striker would want to do coming on as a substitute,” added Du Preez.
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“Against Magesi I had a few minutes from the bench and scored the winning goal and for me it is to prove week in and week out that I want to be in the starting line-up.
“Getting the winning goal (against Sundowns) in the Nedbank Cup to reach the final was an amazing feeling for us as a club and for myself. It is for me to keep pushing and help the club at the end of the day.”
