Zwane carries pressure well

Arthur Zwane has a huge responsibility on his shoulders and I sometimes wonder what goes through his mind at night when everything and every possibility comes to your head.

He has the expectations of millions of Kaizer Chiefs supporters to fulfil. Mangethe, Zwane’s clan name by which he is sometimes referred to, is a calm individual and even if he was overwhelmed by the responsibility he has been handed, he would never show.

That is why I was in two minds when I read what Pitso Mosimane had said about Zwane. Pitso felt like he didn’t believe Zwane was ready for the job. He said he has not heard him boldly say he wants this job.

Pitso believes you have to want such a big job and show confidence about it. But I think he has Zwane sized up all wrong. Zwane is not as boastful as Pitso is. But he did say he wants this job, just not in such a direct manner.

Zwane said in his first interview when he was appointed that he had always told the youngsters he worked with in the development ranks that he is headed to the senior team where he would be head coach.

He even mentioned how he had told anybody who cared to listen that he was born to be the Kaizer Chiefs senior head coach – which he is now. I think Pitso’s words are just adding unnecessary pressure on Zwane. Imagine a successful coach like Pitso doubting you.

He is doing this while he is available for the job and most of the millions of the Amakhosi supporters would scream in happiness if he were brought to Naturena. So, for him to say such things is not fair on Zwane,

But what I like is that Zwane has the full support of the Chiefs management – more so than any other coach has in the past seven years. Or at least it looks that way.

If you go back to what Zwane spoke about before the season ended, things have happened exactly the way he had said. He spoke of players who had been piggybacked for longer than necessary at Chiefs.

The way Chiefs have conducted themselves in the transfer market tells you that Zwane has a big say on who goes and who stays and gets brought in as he prepares for a new era.