Dan relishing his new role

Daniel Cardoso has not only been denied the right to be the man to take penalties at Kaizer Chiefs but Gavin Hunt has also converted him from his traditional position as a centre-back to a more advanced role in midfield – and he’s enjoying it.

Cardoso (above) has fitted swimmingly into his new role – for which he was swapped with Anthony Akumu, who now plays centre-back – and he said it is more enjoyable.

“It’s been a good run for me out in the midfield,” said Cardoso.

“It’s not very different from a centre-back, I am now protecting our centre-backs and I enjoy it.

“I see a lot more of the ball, I break down a lot more play. I want to get better, and help the team out by winning more games.

“But it’s not always about an individual performance, we are a team and I think once we play better as a team, defending as a team, attacking as a team, things will get better for us,” added the 32-year-old.

Cardoso said he always knew Amakhosi needed just one good win to break their sluggish run.

And in the past few games, they’ve changed a lot and won three games consecutively before the defeat to Orlando Pirates last weekend.

“It wasn’t a good start to the season for us, and it’s only now that we are starting to get our rhythm back and winning games here and there.

“But we’ve shown a fighting spirit in the last five or six games and it’s something we need to continue. We just need another positive result and things will look up.”

Amakhosi return to action tomorrow afternoon in a Nedbank Cup fixture against first division side, Richards Bay FC at FNB Stadium.

Lower division teams are known to be the Soweto giants’ Achilles heel and nobody is probably more aware of that than Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt. himself.