stuart baxter bafana bafana

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 16: Coach Stuart Baxter of Bafana Bafana during the South African national soccer team training session at FNB Stadium on August 16, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)

Kaizer Chiefs new coach: Safa boss insists Baxter is staying put

The Englishman looks like a big part of Safa’s future plans.

stuart baxter bafana bafana

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 16: Coach Stuart Baxter of Bafana Bafana during the South African national soccer team training session at FNB Stadium on August 16, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)

Football fans hoping to see Stuart Baxter named as Kaizer Chiefs new coach have been dealt somewhat of a blow after South African Football Association (Safa) chief, Dennis Mumble rubbished rumours linking the Bafana coach with a move back to his old club.

The Englishman is believed to be the favoured candidate to step into the seat vacated by Steve Komphela in April, following the Soweto giants’ shock defeat to eventual champions, Free State Stars in the Nedbank Cup semifinals.

However, according to Mumble, there have been no talks between Safa and Kaizer Chiefs regarding a possible move back to Naturena for Baxter.

 Watch: Fans’ hilariously spot-on impersonation of Chiefs coach Steve Komphela

He was speaking to the media ahead of the SAB Under 21 League draw at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday.

“We’ll continue not to say anything about it because it’s not something that affects us right now,” Mumble said.

“There’s nothing on the table. Discussions are not on the table. We are not going to discuss it and whoever started the rumours will have to go out and explain to the public why they started that, but we are not going to say anything about that now. There is nothing on the table.”

Stuart Baxter’s future at Bafana Bafana

Baxter has another four years remaining in his contract, as he has been contracted with Safa until after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Following Bafana Bafana’s failure to qualify for the ongoing global showpiece event in Russia, and the subsequent poor showing in the Cosafa Cup, the 64-year-old’s was believed to be hanging by the balance, but Mumble insisted that he still had a future in the national setup.

“As far as I’m concerned, Stuart Baxter is our coach and we are not going to say anything more about that,” he said.

Read: Percy Tau: Motsepe instructs Sundowns to finalise deal with Brighton

The latest on Kaizer Chiefs new coach

Meanwhile at Naturena, Kaizer Chiefs football manager, Bobby Motaung has ruled out the possibility of caretaker coach, Patrick Mabedi taking up the role on a more permanent basis.

According to KickOff, Motaung made no secret that the former Malawi defender will never be appointed head coach at the club.

“He’s got quality, he is delivering as an assistant, but being head coach is something else,” Motaung is quoted by the publication.

With less than a month remaining before the start of the 2018/19 season, Motaung also called on fans to be patient, stating that the club are in no rush to name a new coach.

Read: Five coaches who could replace Baxter at Bafana Bafana