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Stuart Baxter Wants Kaizer Chiefs To ‘Rediscover Their Identity’
ONE of the key strengths of new Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter is his ability to galvanise players and fans with positive talk.
Soon after his return to Naturena was announced yesterday, Baxter was back at it as if sensing the negativity that has engulfed Chiefs for the past season.
His assessment: “It will take more than immediate results for the club to return to the top of South African football, as it will be important for Chiefs to find their identity by keeping their eyes on the pathway, not on the destination.
“When I was here the last time, I knew that Chiefs hadn’t won anything for quite a while. And so, when I came in, I knew that winning something was a priority for them. I didn’t look at only winning trophies but I was also trying to build the team.
“I was also trying to bind the supporters. I was trying to help us find an identity. I think that was the interesting part. And I think that will be the same for us again. If we can keep our eyes on the pathway, not on the destination, I think that will be important.”
In his first stint at the Soweto club (from 2012-2015) Baxter won four trophies, including two Premiership titles. But since his departure, the team’s reputation has deteriorated as they have endured a six-year trophy drought. Four coaches have been hired and fired during this period.
In the recently-concluded season, their resurgent aspirations took a massive knock as they were handed a one year transfer ban by Fifa. This is despite their bold move to appoint Gavin Hunt, who is a highly-rated coach in the domestic game. Hunt’s gig followed the sacking of Ernst Middendorp who lost out on the league title on the last day of the 2019-20 season.
Interim coaches Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard completed half of the task at hand, inspiring the team to a top-eight finish.
Yesterday, though, Amakhosi announced the return of Baxter to the club on a two-year deal, with the option to extend for a further two years.
“I think Kaizer Chiefs have moved forward a lot since I was here the last time. This time, there’ll be a lot of expectations and I’ll have to manage that,” Baxter said. “This time the league is tougher. It is, especially looking at the bottom teams.
“There are tight games. It will be different and the game has moved forward, and changed. I remember when I came the last time and spoke about transition, some people laughed. Now it’s an integral part of everyone’s game.”
There’s an urge from Chiefs supporters to return to winning ways and compete among the best in South Africa and on the continent. In order to achieve that, and rediscover their identity, Baxter will still be assisted by the evergreen Zwane and Sheppard.
Furthermore, Chiefs are hoping there is synergy between the seniors and development structures as they have appointed Baxter’s former assistant and successor at Bafana Bafana Molefi Ntseki as the Head of Technical and Youth development academy.
“I think Kaizer Chiefs has been on a period of expansion for quite a few years. That probably started to pick up when I was here the last time,” Baxter said. “It’s great to see Molefi joining Chiefs. He’s a topclass football person. I am looking forward to working with him again.”
After four previous final failures, the South Africa ended several years of heartbreak by defeating host nation Morocco 2-1 to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.
Hilda Magaia scored two quick goals midway through the second half to finally guide South Africa over the line, making her Banyana Banyana’s hero.
Although Rosella Ayane pulled a goal back for the Atlas Lionesses ten minutes from time, it was too little too late for a team making its first appearance in the final.
South Africa had lost their four previous finals: in 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018.
“It was a humbling experience, and an emotional one, when you look at the journey that we have travelled as Banyana Banyana,” captain Refiloe Jane told BBC Sport Africa.
“To finally get to this point meant a lot for everyone. When the final whistle went out, I was crying. It was the most humbling and emotional experience.
“I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much after a football match – that goes to show our journey, everything that we had to go through and things have finally come together.”
For Banyana Banyana coach Desire Ellis, this was a hugely-satisfying win after first trying – and failing – as a player to win the trophy when losing the final 22 years ago.
Out of the camera directly to your eyes. 🤩
Step on the pitch with #TeamSouthAfrica the moment the full-time whistle announced them African champions! #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 | #EmpoweringOurGame | @Banyana_Banyana pic.twitter.com/d5GyKakg6B
— #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 (@CAFwomen) July 24, 2022
After Ellis oversaw another final defeat, against Nigeria, four years ago from the touchline, her charges entered this tournament with a so-called ‘mentality coach’ in a bid to improve positivity.
“It feels amazing,” she told the BBC. “I’m an African champion now – and no one can take that away from us.”
South Africa needed real composure throughout the game to silence a raucous home crowd that had filled the 53,000-seater stadium at least two hours before kick-off, and which lit up the Rabat sky with dozens of red and white flares during the game.
Mamelodi Sundowns have reportedly landed the signature of Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen William on a five year deal, following week’s of speculation and negotiations.
According to the SABC, the 30 year old shot-stopper will leave SuperSport United after spending 18 years at the Pretoria based club.
Williams has reportedly been looking to leave the Matsatsantsa as he looks to challenge for trophies, and it appears he has found his new home at current DStv Premiership champions Sundowns.
“Indications are that the deal has been concluded, with Williams signing a long-term contract, while his former club have successfully negotiated the transfer of another goalkeeper in Ricardo Goss as well as young striker Thabang Sibanyoni to join coach Gavin Hunt’s side for the upcoming season,” SABC Sport reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, SuperSport Uniter were initially not willing to let their star goalkeeper go if they did not get Goss on a permanent deal, but they’ve now had to settle on a two-year loan, with striker Sibanyoni also thrown in.
The 28 year old Goss has found game time hard to come since making his move to Sundowns, but will now be reunited with Gavin Hunt, a man he previously worked with at Wits.
Sundowns are currently in KwaZulu-Natal on a pre-season camp, and will take part in this year’s edition of the Prince Mangosuthu Legacy Cup this weekend.
Sekhukhune United has announced the signing of Royal AM forward, Victor Letsoalo on a three year contract deal, according to reports.
Letsoalo was tipped to potentially join Kaizer Chief or Orlando Pirates, however, he signed for Sekhukhune United which comes a shock as reported by FARPost.
The 29-year-old Bafana Bafana forward ended the season finishing second on the goal-king chart behind top-scorer Peter Shalulile who found the back of the net 23 times. He scored 15 goals in the South African top-flight.
Letsoalo’s top performance in the past season for Royal AM side saw the newly promoted side who made their debut campaign in the South African top-flight league finishing 3rd, earning qualification to the CAF Confederation Cup.
It remains to be seen how Royal AM will cope with not only the departure of Letsoalo but also of former coach John Maduka who has since moved across Kwa-Zulu Natal to take charge of Maritzburg United.
Relegated Jomo Cosmos have been handed a lifeline and could play GladAfrica Championship football next season following discoveries of Hungry Lions fielding an ineligible player in 10 of their 30 games.
Jomo Cosmos submitted a formal complaint through their legal representatives with regards to the ‘illegal’ fielding of a player who is still on their books.
“It has recently come to our attention, Mr Tshepo Mohlala(the player) has been playing for Hungry Lions Football Club during the 2021/2022 football season, despite being a player of our client,” read the charge sheet of the Premier Soccer League.
“The player has never been cleared nor released by Jomo Cosmos Football Club and hence any games played for Hungry Lions Football Club constitute a breach of NSL handbook rules 30,31 and 32.”
Tshepo Mohlala, who was a part of the Ezenkosi amateurs set up in the 2015/2016 featured in matches that Hungry Lions managed to collect 15 points, he could be the reason the Northern Cape side are docked of these points which would subsequently relegate them and ensure Jomo Cosmos another season in the second tier of South African football.
Cosmo concluded their GladAfrica Championship campaign in 15th position after accumulating 28 points in their 30 matches.
Lions, who currently sit 11th on the log with 36 points could end up on 24 points if they are found guilty on the charges placed on them and that would mean they finish bottom of the log and Cosmos jump out to safety.
Lions and Mohlala are set to appear before the PSL DC on the 27th of June and will know their fate thereafter.
Former Bafana Bafana star Mark Fish has said that he is supporting Ria Ledwaba in the race for the SAFA presidency against Danny Jordaan.
Ledwaba is currently challenging for the SAFA presidency but is viewed as an outsider against competitor Danny Jordaan.
At the moment, I’m supporting Ria (Ledwaba). It’s not because we are ex-footballers. We are football fans as well. We need change. SAFA has done good things but we need change if we are to move forward. I think if we don’t see change now, it will be difficult to see improvement in grassroots football,” said Fish.
Fish insisted that change is now necessary if Bafana Bafana is to embark on a revival after nearly two decades of mediocrity on the field of play.
“We are giving support to an individual who has spoken to us as ex-players and said that she can bring change. We need change to move on. We need to get back to being number one in the continent and back to being among the top 20 or 25 in the World,” said Fish.
The former Charlton Athletic defender insisted that while he is supporting Ledwaba, he has no personal issues with Jordaan.
“Danny has never done anything wrong to me. I have a picture of Danny, myself and Benni McCarthy at the 1998 World Cup. I also have a picture of myself and Danny in Congo. He is passionate about the game.
Nothing has changed but I feel that we need a change of leadership. Ria has put up her hand and we are behind it because we feel that there should be change,” said Fish.
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