JOHANNESBURG – Kaizer Chief’s football manager, Bobby Motaung, has called for calm from Amakhosi fans while the club searches for the “quality coach” he promised will lead the Glamour Boys in the 2018/19 season.
Chiefs have been without a permanent head coach since Steve Komphela’s resignation in April following acts of hooliganism at Moses Mabhida Stadium from the club’s supporters who were baying for his blood. Millions worth of property was destroyed and one security guard was beaten to a pulp during those disgusting scenes.
Almost three months after that resignation, Chiefs are still looking for Komphela’s replacement with Patrick Mabedi holding the fort in the interim.
Motaung revealed that three top coaches that they had identified and were close to bringing to Naturena were snatched up by clubs with deeper pockets before they could tie them down.
“You must remember that our fans have expectations,” Motaung said. “We have to make sure that whoever we appoint understands the pressure that comes with the job. It’s got to be a mature person. Unfortunately most of the qualified coaches who are quality are not available. You have to dig deep. We aren’t going to go out and just appoint anyone because we are under pressure.
Please bear with us, Bobby Motaung asked. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
“We would rather be patient and appoint the right person at the right time. We aren’t going to make promises, we aren’t going to commit to any deadlines or succumb to pressure. Pressure is there. It’s normal. Fortunately Chiefs is a big organisation, it has structures. You saw when Steve left, we still sustained the quality and got to where we wanted to be which was to at least finish in third place.
“I think that Mabedi is capable with the technical stuff that we have.”
This is the third week that Mabedi has been in charge of Amakhosi in their preparations for the upcoming season. The former Chiefs captain is likely to be in charge of the club on Saturday in the Maize Cup.
Amakhosi will take on Buya Msuthu in the morning and Chippa United face Free State Stars in the four-team pre-season tournament. Motaung is adamant that Mabedi will not assume that role when the season kicks off.
“Mabedi, definitely, will never be the head coach of Kaizer Chiefs.
“But he is a caretaker coach and he has been the assistant coach. He is quality and he is delivering as an assistant coach. But being a head coach is something else. Actually, I would apply for that job too because when the team loses I get the flak. Maybe I should take over because when the team isn’t scoring I must be a goal scorer.
“I must get the best striker. When the team isn’t winning, I and the coach get the blame. It’s not an easy task,” Motaung jokingly said.
However, Mabedi is likely to remain as the second assistant coach regardless of who Chiefs appoint. There is a strong possibility that Stuart Baxter will return to Naturena for a second spell along with Doctor Khumalo, who parted ways with Baroka FC, as his No 2.
Baxter, or whoever will be appointed as head coach, has a mammoth task ahead of him to make up for the three barren seasons the club is coming from.
“What I am saying is let’s be patient and calm,” Motaung said.
“We are doing this soberly. We aren’t doing this out of emotions. We respect the fans. That’s why we are taking our time so that we bring a quality coach.”