Polokwane – Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Doctor Khumalo says that Amakhosi’s league triumph, masterminded by Stuart Baxter, should teach South Africans to give coaches a chance to prove themselves before “judging them”.
Khumalo praised the former Bafana Bafana coach, who became the first foreign coach to win the championship title in the country’s elite league in his maiden season, when his Amakhosi side drew 1-1 with SuperSport United on Wednesday night.
Khumalo said Baxter, who was accused of embellishing his CV and labelled “Pinocchio” by the Star Africa, is a highly qualified coach who has proven critics wrong with the title win, Kaizer Chiefs’ first in eight years.
“Much has been said about his CV and that he is not the right person for this team,” Khumalo said of Baxter, who was serving the first half of his two-match ban against Matsatsantsa at Peter Mokaba Stadium. “But I think he proved himself and that he is the best. And to those who don’t understand, he is highly qualified and professional and that’s why we managed to win the league. It’s about time we learn as South Africans that we should give individuals time to prove themselves before judging. I am humbled to be working with him. Winning the league is no child’s play. It’s a marathon. It’s not like the cup competitions.”
Khumalo says Amakhosi’s planning during pre-season and Baxter’s ability to motivate players are two key factors to the club’s success this term.
“He (Baxter) was not here to change how the players play. If you are a good dribbler, he will allow you to dribble, but it should be to the benefit of the team. It should not be done to please the player. He made sure that the players understand what it means to play for Chiefs. The pre-season planning was what made us to be here today.”
Khumalo has now challenged the club’s players to finish the season with the double, with the Nedbank Cup final against SuperSport United looming.
“One is in the bag, but the Nedbank Cup is not going to be easy. We are just hoping that these lads will make us proud again.”
Meanwhile, SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt said a club as big as Chiefs should be winning the league more often.
“Let’s be honest guys, let’s be really honest here. It’s not very good that Chiefs have not won the league in a long time. I mean they are a big, big club. When we won the league, there was 20 people to celebrate, they have 20000 here. They are a fantastic football club, the history is rich. To be fair, they should be winning the league more often, am I right? I think you will all agree with me,” the Matsatsantsa coach said.
Hunt congratulated Amakhosi on their title win and says their signings this season were the best in “a long time”.
“They are the best side in the league this season, no doubt. Congratulations to them. One thing they did well this season was that they kept the ball better and got players into the final third by keeping the ball.” – Star Africa