Kjell on new turf
STUART Baxter believes Kjell Jonevret will bring a better structure to Orlando Pirates‚ though he believes the Swede has some work to do adjusting to the culture and mindset of South African players.
New Pirates coach Jonevret has his temporary work permit and has trained the team for two days, on Thursday and yesterday, ahead of taking his place on the bench of the Soweto giants at Orlando Stadium today against unpredictable Polokwane City at 3.30pm.
SuperSport United coach Baxter and Jonevret are not personal friends but crossed each other’s paths on plenty of occasions as opponents on the touchline when both coached in Sweden.
The two have similar records of success there. Both coached AIK in Stockholm‚ Baxter winning a league title and Swedish Cup there in the late 1990s.
Jonevret won a Swedish double league (Allsvenskan) and Svenska with Djurgardens in 2005.
Both led their teams into the Uefa Champions League and Europa League.
Baxter said this week that he knew Jonevret personally, although they were not close friends, and he knew his style of football well.
“Yes I know of him. We’re not what you’d call friends‚ going out and having dinner every week‚” the SuperSport coach said.
“But we’ve been around each other in Sweden at the same time‚ playing against each other‚ and on coaching courses‚ so yeah‚ I know him very well.”
Baxter said Jonevret is a serious coach. of the Cupen
“Look he’ll be a serious football man. Scandinavian coaches are serious football people. They’re not fly-by-nights.
“He will want to come here and want to earn his money.
“And I think that’s probably good news for the chairman [Irvin Khoza].”
Notable differences between Englishman Scot Baxter and Jonevret‚ apart of course from their nationalities‚ is that the former has been more well-travelled.
Baxter‚ who has coached in Japan‚ England and Iceland‚ also had an initial difficult period in South African football coaching Bafana Bafana in the mid-2000s‚ before returning with great success to win league and cup doubles at Kaizer Chiefs in 2012-13 and 201415.
He said it is hard to tell if Jonevret – who has only coached in Scandinavia – will find success at Pirates. “You never know‚ do you? “He’s going to come and he’s got to learn his squad‚ he’s got to learn a little bit about how to deliver information to South African players.
“They’re not Swedes‚ they’re not Japanese‚ they’re South Africans.
“And I think that’s a technique that you have to learn.
“But what I think he will do is structure Pirates more. He’ll be a little bit of an instructor.
“And I think maybe you’ll see a differentlooking Pirates team.”
Luc Eymael’s unpredictable but dangerous‚ attack-minded Polokwane‚ in sixth place in the PSL‚ have not won in five games. — TMG