Arthur Zwane of Kaizer Chiefs. Image: @MWTlali / Twitter
CONFIRMED: Three-year deal for Arthur Zwane as Chiefs head coach!
Kaizer Chiefs have announced that Arthur Zwane has been appointed as the permanent head coach at the club.
Arthur Zwane of Kaizer Chiefs. Image: @MWTlali / Twitter
Earlier this season, Stuart Baxter was let go after an unsuccessful second stint at Chiefs, with Zwane stepping up as interim coach along with Dillon Sheppard.
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Kaizer Chiefs had embarrassingly crashed out of the Nedbank Cup, while they’d managed just 11 wins from 25 matches in the DStv Premiership to be left stranded in fifth position when Baxter was let go.
Amakhosi have now gone seven years without a trophy, and Kaizer Chiefs Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jnr has admitted that there is a need for a clear road map to be paved for the way ahead.
Notably, though, there were signs that things were beginning to turn in the right direction for Amakhosi during the month of May. After a 1-0 win over Marumo Gallants at the start of this month, Chiefs also claimed a draw with Sundowns, defeated Sekhukhune and then drew with Swallows to move up to fourth spot on the PSL log – just two points adrift of second-placed Cape Town City.
Zwane has already mentioned that some players need to be cut from the team, while hinting that many new recruits will be brought in before next season as Chiefs look to return to their former glory days.
Now, at a media briefing at the FNB Stadium on Thursday, Chiefs first revealed there would be a “massive club announcement”, and then duly confirmed that Zwane will be taking on the top job permanently on a three-year deal.
Meanwhile, it was also revealed that Sheppard will serve as Zwane’s assistant.
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It’s clear that Chiefs are already looking to rebuild their squad to be more competitive next year, and after having signed Siyethemba Sithebe from AmaZulu on a pre-contract as well as Zitha Kwinika from Stellenbosch, reports also suggest Amakhosi are closing in on Yusuf Maart, while Stellenbosch’s Ashley du Preez is expected to head to Naturena as well.
Zwane is believed to be a popular figure among the Chiefs squad
Recently, Zwane highlighted his familiarity with the workings of the club as a big plus factor in his favour.
“If the opportunity to coach the team comes, why not?” Zwane said. “We all want to grow as coaches and what is the point of being with the team for so many years and, when I am given the responsibility, I shy away.
“Who else should take this responsibility? The situation we are in right now shouldn’t be us trying to hit the ground running. It is not going to work because we have done that for many years as a club.
“We have to rebuild, we have to start afresh, bring the right people in in terms of technical staff and playing personnel, because there is so much that we need to work on right now.
“The sooner we do that as a club, the better because things will be back to normal. If you are going to do this thing of saying, let’s look for someone who will hit the ground running, it is still going to have challenges.
“We are going to bring in new players who don’t know the set-up, the environment and the pressure that comes with the responsibility of playing for this club.
“Also, the person who will come in doesn’t know so many other things. Kaizer Chiefs is a beast, it is not just another club, it needs someone who knows it very well. If the opportunity is granted, I will grab it with both hands and make sure we bring the glory back.”
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