Daily Dispatch

Chiefs chair wishes Doc Khumalo well at Baroka FC

- By TIISETSO MALEPA

KAIZER Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung has wished club legend Doctor Khumalo well after the iconic former midfielder parted ways with Amakhosi this week.

Khumalo was unveiled as Baroka FC technical director on Thursday to end a 31year-old relationsh­ip with Chiefs as a player and coach. He joined the Soweto giants at age 16 and made his debut in the Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates at Ellis Park in 1987.

“Doctor came to us six months ago to discuss his against

The fixtures are: Today: Polokwane City v Baroka at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium (3pm); SuperSport United v Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium (3pm); AmaZulu v Free State Stars at King Zwelithini Stadium (3pm); Orlando Pirates v Chippa United at Orlando Stadium (6pm); Ajax Cape Town v Golden Arrows at Cape Town Stadium (8.15pm). Tomorrow: Platinum Stars v Maritzburg Utd at Royal Bafokeng Stadium (3pm); Bloemfonte­in Celtic v Kaizer Chiefs at Free State Stadium (3pm) future plans and desire to pursue other interests. Among the points contained in his proposal was the desire to grow his brand and take on other challenges after celebratin­g his 50th birthday in June‚” Motaung said.

Khumalo‚ who made more than 400 appearance­s and scored 75 goals‚ served as Chiefs coach Steve Komphela’s assistant in the coach’s first season in the 2015/16 season.

The former Bafana Bafana midfielder was surprising­ly moved aside and deployed to coach in the club’s developmen­t ranks at the end of Komphela’s first season‚ replaced with Ghanaian legend John Painstil at the beginning of last season.

Painstil also served for one season and was released and replaced with former Chiefs defender Patrick Mabedi for the upcoming season.

Khumalo apparently desired more than to coach in the developmen­t ranks and has sought to spread his wings elsewhere.

“We sat down and discussed his proposals with the football department to map the way forward for both parties until we agreed that he should pursue his dreams as we did not want to stand in his way‚” Motaung said.

“Doctor remains a legend of the club and we will always work with him whenever the opportunit­y presents itself.

“We wish him all the best in his future endeavours. He will also be welcomed back whenever we do our legends programmes.”

After hanging up his boots in 2002 following a glittering playing career‚ Khumalo served as assistant under various coaches including Muhsin Ertugral.

Khumalo was also in charge of Amakhosi as caretaker-coach for two brief periods. — TimesLIVE

 ?? Picture: GALLO IMAGES ?? WELCOME BACK: Mark Mayambela has returned to the ranks of Chippa United after Chilli Boys made a bold statement about how serious they are to improve their below-par performanc­e by signing 13 new players
Picture: GALLO IMAGES WELCOME BACK: Mark Mayambela has returned to the ranks of Chippa United after Chilli Boys made a bold statement about how serious they are to improve their below-par performanc­e by signing 13 new players
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