The story behind the scenes

A coaching problem or does it go deeper?

Since the departure of Baxter in 2015, Chiefs have tried various approaches with regards to the club’s head coaches.

The club went against convention and took the local route in appointing the former Bafana Bafana coach’s successor, Steve Komphela. The renowned mentor, who hadn’t won a topflight trophy at the time, looked the right fit but could not yield a trophy in his three-year stint with the club.

Chiefs then went back to a European approach in appointing former Free State Stars coach Giovanni Solinas. However, his disastrous spell at the club lasted just five months, being shown the door in the same year that he was appointed.

Amakhosi then returned to a familiar face in Ernst Middendorp. The German had spent two years at the club between 2005 and 2007, which yielded two trophies – the Absa Cup and SAA Supa8. However, he was unable to replicate that upon his return, with his two-year stint proving fruitless.

With a solution desperately needed, Chiefs turned to four-time PSL winner Gavin Hunt. While his appointment was met with much fanfare, things did not quite work out for the 57-year-old, who was dismissed after eight months in charge.

Baxter has been brought back to reclaim the glory days at Amakhosi, but his second coming has been largely underwhelming, with the club blowing hot and cold partly due to inconsistent team selections.

Despite the multiple changes in the coaching position, the results have not changed, which has begged the question whether the problem lies deeper.

It is believed that the family politics, and specifically the alleged feud between the Motaung siblings, has largely affected the football team, and ultimately their inability to win silverware.

The alleged disputes between Jessica (marketing manager), Kemiso (digital manager), Kaizer Junior (sporting director) and Bobby Motaung (football manager) are, according to sources, affecting the team.

Sources have explained that one of the recent coaches that has since left threatened to resign from his position several time because of the effect that the alleged feud between the siblings was having. However, he was convinced not to up until he was shown the exit door.

Does Baxter need more time at the helm?

The Englishman is a proven winner. His last stint at Chiefs yielded two league titles as well at the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup trophies, proving that he has the mettle and mentality to make things work at a big club like Amakhosi.

The current season hasn’t been doom and gloom either. Baxter has got talismanic Khama Billiat firing again, while marquee signing Dolly has been in inspiring form under his guidance.

Overall, the squad look more defensively balanced and has conceded less goals than under his predecessors.

History has shown that Baxter usually takes his time to fine-tune his preferred starting XI, for how he wants his team to play.

Given that he still has a year left on his contract, with multiple options, Baxter will be hoping to sort out his preferred team soon enough to mount a serious challenge to Mamelodi Sundowns, who have been the dominant force in the PSL in recent years.

Is Zwane the ideal successor?

Zwane has been with the Amakhosi for over 22 years – first as a player between 2000 and 2009 and thereafter as a coach in the club’s development ranks, where he has worked his way up.

If anyone knows Chiefs, it’s the 48-year-old.

After serving as the club’s DStv Diski Challenge mentor, Zwane was promoted to first-team assistant coach under Hunt, where he worked alongside Dillon Sheppard.

‘10111’ has stepped up to the plate successfully whenever called upon.

After Hunt was sacked in 2021, Zwane and Sheppard were tasked with the responsibility of guiding the team to a Top Eight finish, something they managed to pull off.

In addition, the two young coaches were at the helm in a crucial two-legged CAF Champions League tussle against Wydad Casablanca, a match that Chiefs ultimately won on penalties, which saw them progress to the final of the competition, where Baxter eventually took over.

Not only has he shown full capability whenever called upon, Zwane has also equipped himself with the necessary coaching badges. In 2019, he jetted out to Ireland for two weeks to complete a world-recognised UEFA B Licence. He had completed his UEFA A License in South Africa prior to that.

Before that, in 2012, following the sacking of Vladimir Vermezovic, Zwane, along with Chiefs legends Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse and Doctor Khumalo, was appointed joint-caretaker coach and tasked with seeing out the remainder of the season. In that time, the trio collected 10 out of a possible 21 points and ended the 2011/12 season in fifth place, before eventually making way for Baxter’s first Amakhosi stint.