What are the facts?

Chiefs have not commented extensively on the search for a new coach, but last week Motaung Jnr did tell a small number of journalist that were invited to Naturena that the club needs a coach that will embrace the youth.

He was speaking in the build-up to their DStv Premiership fixture against Cape Town City at the FNB Stadium.

Zwane seems to tick some of the boxes in the criteria set out by Motaung, which includes reducing the average age of the squad and prioritizing the players from the development structures.

According to club supporters, this was Baxter’s Achilles heel in the lead-up to his sacking… and it would appear the sporting director agreed with the Amakhosi faithful in the end, given the decision that was taken.

Chiefs have always preferred to have any of the head coaches previously work closely with a club icon or explayer.

But when Zwane was handed the reins as a reserve league coach in 2016 and promoted to work with Hunt four years later, perhaps the writing was on the wall that it was in efforts to bring him close to the senior team hotseat.

In part, he told the media that he was keen on the job.

“It can only be one way. Do I want it (become first team coach in future)? Yes. If I want it, I’ll always get it, but it won’t come easy. I’m going to have to be ready and work hard and make sure that I can be one of the best. It shouldn’t be a case of just going there and making numbers. And as you know, the team has also invested a lot in me, and not only me. There’s other upand-coming coaches that the team has invested in them,” Zwane said.

“And I’ve been overseas. I’ve attended coaching courses, and I’m still going to go there, because I want to grow and understand the game better and mix with the right people. I want to learn from other people and I’m still learning because I’m a student of the game.”

Perhaps this would have been slightly delayed had Hunt been given more time or Baxter allowed to carry on – their axing could be to Zwane’s advantage.