Chiefs ‘digging deep’ for a new coach ...
JOHANNESBURG: Kaizer Chiefs football manager, Bobby Motaung, has called for calm from Amakhosi fans while the club searches for the “quality coach” he promised will lead the Glamour Boys in the 2018/19 season.
Chiefs have been without a permanent head coach since Steve Komphela’s resignation in April. Almost three months later, Chiefs are still looking for Komphela’s replacement, with Patrick Mabedi holding the fort in the interim.
Motaung said three top coaches they had identified and were close to bringing to Naturena were snatched by clubs with deeper pockets before they could tie them down.
“You must remember our fans have expectations,” Motaung said. “We have to make sure whoever we appoint understands the pressure that comes with the job. It’s got to be a mature person. Unfortunately most of the qualified coaches who are quality are not available. You have to dig deep. We aren’t going to go out and just appoint anyone because we are under pressure. We would rather be patient and appoint the right person at the right time.
“Fortunately Chiefs is a big organisation, it has structures. You saw when Steve left, we still sustained the quality. I think that Mabedi is capable with the technical stuff that we have.”
Mabedi hasspewnt the past three weeks preparing the team for the upcoming season. The former Chiefs’ captain is likely to be in charge of the club on Saturday in the Maize Cup. Amakhosi will take on ABC Motsepe League Buya Msuthu in the morning, while Chippa United face Free State Stars in the pre-season tournament. Motaung is adamant Mabedi will not assume that role when the season kicks off.
“Mabedi, definitely, will never be the head coach of Kaizer Chiefs. But he is a caretaker coach and he has been the assistant coach. He is quality and he is delivering as an assistant coach. But being a head coach is something else. It’s not an easy task,” Motaung jokingly said.
However, Mabedi is likely to remain as the second assistant coach regardless of who Chiefs appoint. There is a strong possibility Stuart Baxter will return to Naturena for a second spell along with Doctor Khumalo, who parted ways with Baroka FC, as his No. 2. Baxter, or whoever will be appointed as head coach, has a mammoth task ahead of him to make up for three barren seasons.
“What I am saying is let’s be patient and calm,” Motaung said. “We are doing this soberly. We aren’t doing this out of emotions. We respect the fans. That’s why we are taking our time so that we bring a quality coach.”