Hutting likely caretaker at Chiefs

AS Kaizer Chiefs plot the way forward following a weekend of extreme violence that was followed by the resignation of Steve Komphela, technical adviser Rob Hutting is understood to be at the forefront to take charge of their three remaining league games.

Komphela resigned in the aftermath of the mayhem at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, triggered by Chiefs’ 2-0 loss to Free State Stars in the Nedbank Cup semifinal.

Chiefs did not immediately confirm who would be in charge as they wound up a woeful season, with team manager Bobby Motaung saying further details about the way forward should be expected this week.

Hutting appears to be the likeliest candidate to guide the team until the end of the season.

The Dutch coach has more than 30 years of coaching experience but he has never coached in the top league divisions in Europe.

But he is the most senior tactician to temporarily take over as assistant coach Patrick Mabedi has no head coaching experience.

He will have a difficult job of motivating the players in the remaining games after three trophyless seasons.

Also, with the management having promised sweeping changes in the off-season after their humiliating 3-0 loss to Chippa United a fortnight ago, many of the players are facing the axe.

Chiefs will take on Golden Arrows at the Princes Magogo Stadium in Durban tomorrow (7.30pm), Maritzburg United at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday and Ajax Cape Town at the Cape Town Stadium on May 12.

Komphela, meanwhile, decried the violence at the stadium and said if it would make fans happy, he would exit.

“We have to cut this culture of ill-discipline and delinquency. One has to be responsible enough to say‚ ‘be the first one to cut this’.

“If it has to stop by me being just outside the scenario‚ even with two matches to go‚ [I will] do it.

“There is nothing wrong with that,” he said. – Additional reporting by Mark Gleeson