JOHANNESBURG – Doctor Khumalo did very little at the weekend to pour cold water on rumours that he is headed back “home” to Kaizer Chiefs.
Shortly after Baroka FC survived a relegation play-off scare, despite going down 1-0 to SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Khumalo, who arrived at the club in the role of technical director at the beginning of the season but finished it off as their coach in the final two Absa Premiership games, cast doubt on his next move.
Baroka are believed to have offered him the vacant coaching post permanently if he wants it. However, the former Bafana Bafana and Chiefs legend might find the proposal to return to Naturena far too tempting to pass on.
Amakhosi are in the hunt for a replacement for Steve Komphela, who resigned three weeks ago. And there have been reports suggesting Khumalo could take over his previous role there as an assistant coach.
“What I know is that I am going back to my position as a technical director. Nobody has called me yet with regards to going to Chiefs,” he said, before suggesting that a phone call from Chiefs chairman (Kaizer Motaung) might sway him.
“If Bra K calls me I will go and listen to what he has to say because he is my father. At the moment I have to respect the job that Baroka have given me, no one has called me at Chiefs. But I can’t ignore Bra K because that man gave me the platform. At the end of the day, if he calls me, I will go and listen.”
Doctor Khumalo finished off Baroka's season as their coach in the final two games. Photo: Supplied/Puma
Khumalo has been an on and off assistant at Amakhosi over the years and was in a similar capacity in Komphela’s first season.
Chiefs have been evasive about the latest in their search for a new coach, with Avram Grant, the former Chelsea and Ghana coach, currently said to be thinking about taking over at the Glamour Boys.
For the moment, Khumalo said he will help Baroka also look for a qualified coach that can help the club avoid another brush with relegation next season.
Bakgaga, in their 'sophomore' year in the Premier League, finished third from bottom - just 10 points above Platinum Stars, who were relegated, and three above Ajax Cape Town, who went into the play-offs at the weekend having lost to Chiefs.
“Before I could take these two games, we spoke about going through the CVs of the coaches who have applied and then we will appoint a coach. We have got so many applications that I have seen and some are the guys that we all know very well. But I can’t reveal any names,” said Khumalo.