Polokwane – While Kaizer Chiefs players were celebrating their first Premiership title in eight years at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday, Stuart Baxter was “annoyed” that Amakhosi did not wrap up the title in style.
Serving the first of his two-match ban in their clash with SuperSport United in Polokwane, Baxter watched from the VIP box while his players wasted numerous opportunities before Sibusiso Zuma cancelled out Lehlohonolo Majoro’s 49th minute strike in the last two minutes to set up a nervy finish. Chiefs held on for the draw as Baxter became the first foreign coach to win the league in his first season of coaching in the PSL.
Baxter, however, was not pleased. Not for long, though.
“I was more annoyed. We went on the back foot after we scored the goal. We were not playing the way we usually play, we were too deep defending. We were being careful. I couldn’t shake off my annoyance immediately after the match. But you get over it. The players have done well throughout the season and we are very proud of what they have achieved,” the former Bafana Bafana coach said on Thursday.
It didn’t help that he was not on the touchline to push his players forward.
“It was a gruesome experience sitting up there. I had this experience before when I was in Sweden and we played Arsenal in the Champions League. Whether you are coaching in the Champions League, or in the PSL, it’s gruesome, I tell you. And I would not even wish it on my enemies,” added Baxter, who will sit up in the VIP box again at Mbombela Stadium tomorrow when Chiefs take on Premiership rookies University of Pretoria.
He’s appointment as Amakhosi coach this season was met with mixed feelings, from the club’s supporters and the media. He had previously failed to qualify for the World Cup (2006) with Bafana Bafana, and when it was reported that he allegedly falsified his CV, it made things worse. The new season had not even begun and the Briton was being lampooned as Pinocchio.
“The reports about my CV did not get to me,” Baxter said.
“I think it should get to the people who wrote it. What I was concerned about is that it was nonsense and it was misleading. They misinterpreted what they wanted to misinterpret. Do I want to stick a stick in the eyes of the people who wrote it? Not at all. I’m a professional.”
A Palooka to many who felt his appointment as Bafana coach nine years ago did not make sense, Baxter says he did not need to redeem himself this season with Amakhosi after failing to qualify for the 2006 World Cup played in Germany.
“I didn’t think I needed to redeem myself. I did the best I could (with Bafana Bafana). Was it a sin to lose to Ghana (in the World Cup qualifiers), the same team which went on to play in the quarter-finals at the World Cup? Not at all. Many people feel we should have beaten Ghana to qualify for the World Cup. Maybe we underestimated them, or we overestimated ourselves. Working with the national team and a club is different.
“At national level you get less time to prepare. I feel I didn’t get the right support and I think some of the problems I faced continued after I left. The same problems in terms of trying to improve the game were still there.
“But my experience (with Bafana) didn’t deter me. What Chiefs offered me was very interesting and I was happy to take on the role. I don’t doubt my ability as a coach. What I felt needed changing is the perception people may have had of me.”
One thing Baxter got right this season is that he got players to play for him and fight for the team. Chiefs were not easy to beat, and when they were a goal down, they fought tirelessly to get something out of the game. Players were free to express themselves on the pitch and he managed to get the best out of Bernard Parker, who did not seem to enjoy his football under Vladimir Vermezovic. He was also not afraid to experiment, playing three central defenders.
It worked well for him before Morgan Gould sustained an injury.
“Players need to be enjoying training and be inspired all the time. What we did is to try and create a learning environment for the players,” he said.
Baxter reveals that Amakhosi started believing they could win the league when they beat Moroka Swallows 3-1 in Dobsonville in April. From then on, there was never really a doubt, he says. “I started believing we could win the league after half a bottle of wine,” he joked. “No seriously, we started believing we could win it after the Swallows game. It gave us a real mental boost. Until then, nothing was sure because a 15-point lead could have been lost very easily.”
He admits, however, it was not the greatest of finishes as Amakhosi stuttered before crossing the finish line.
“It’s been a case of dragging ourselves over the line. We were not playing well. It may have been expectation and nerves,” he said.
Can Chiefs maintain their success? “That’s a very big question. Manchester City could not do it this season. But if you have won the league, you should believe that you can maintain the success. We are a long way from that, but we believe we can do it.”
Baxter has a chance of having the league and cup double on his CV, that and possibly the Premiership Coach of the Season. Amakhosi play SuperSport in the Nedbank Cup final next weekend, hoping to end the season on a high.
“Last night’s game (Wednesday) will have no bearing on the final. You know how cup finals are. It’s about who delivers on the day. The players want to give it a good go. It should be an exciting final. We want to end the season on a high.”
No matter what happens in the Nedbank Cup next weekend, Baxter has certainly endeared himself to Amakhosi fans. – The Star