Kaizer Chiefs announce new coach

Kaizer Chiefs answered a question that was probably on everyone’s lips in local football when they announced Giovanni Solinas (above) as their new coach yesterday afternoon.

Weirdly enough, however, the announcement left more questions with the 50-year-old Italian’s pedigree leaving some unimpressed.

“We always look at what a coach can do and we believe that with Solinas we have brought in a person with the right mechanism and energy to do well.” said Amakhosi chairman Kaizer Motaung.

“We also looked at recruiting a coach who understands our league. It’s important to understand that the game of football has become very scientific, which means the strength of the coach is the technical team around him, even though he will, of course, always be the one in charge.

“We feel Solinas is the right guy to guide this process,” said Motaung.

Not much was revealed by the club with an official media conference set for next Wednesday where all the details about the new coach will be made public. The Saturday Citizen, however, understands that Solinas was recommended by former Chiefs defender Bradley Carnell who was his assistant at Stars.

Solinas is not new to local football, having previously had two stints at Free State Stars, but both ended prematurely as he resigned for “personal reasons”. He first joined in December 2015 replacing Ernst Middendorp and quit in May 2016. He returned to Ea Lla Koto in September 2016 but stayed just over three months as he left again in January 2017.

He has had a stint at Saudi Arabian side Al Faisaly after that but has not been affiliated to any club since June last year until yesterday.

He was linked to a move to Orlando Pirates at some point last season but the club opted for Kjell Jonevret instead.