Written by Mnotho Scelo Jiyane.
Editor: Mamaili Mamaila
In July, South African football giants Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (Kaizer Chiefs) announced the return of two-time Premier Soccer League (PSL) Coach of the Season Stuart Baxter as its new head.
This came following the club’s disastrous 2020/21 season campaign, which left much to be desired under the stewardship of Gavin Hunt. Although Hunt made history for Kaizer Chiefs in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League; on the domestic front, Kaizer Chiefs became a shadow of its former self – failing to improve on its previous season’s performance – which saw the team lose out on its chance to clinch its fifth league title in the PSL era.
Nevertheless, Baxter’s appointment gave the Amakhosi faithful renewed hope for success as he is the last coach to win any silverware for the club during his first spell which ended in 2015. Since then, Kaizer Chiefs has appointed four other coaches who have failed to emulate the club’s former success.
Settling In.
At the time of Baxter’s announcement, Kaizer Chiefs was set to face Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League. Baxter, unfortunately, had to sit this challenge out as he awaited his work permit – with assistant coach Arthur Zwane holding down the fort in the meantime.
Picking up from where Hunt left off in the Champions league, Zwane advanced Kaizer Chiefs to the finals, where Baxter swiftly swooped in, in time to lead the club’s biggest test against Egypt’s Al Ahly Sporting Club (Al Ahly).
Baxter’s line-up for the 2021 CAF Champions League final which was played in July at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, Morocco included a surprising change whereby midfielder left-back Happy Mashiane started ahead of Siyabonga Ngezana. Mashiane’s inclusion, who at this stage, had not been regular for the club, was quite odd considering the magnitude of the match.
In an unfortunate turn of events, Mashiane committed an amateur foul which led to him getting a red card. Prior to the red card, he seemingly struggled to find his feet as he was dispossessed most of the time, owing to the pressure placed on him by Al Ahly’s attackers.
Many of the club’s supporters failed to comprehend why Baxter opted to start with a young player who was not yet a regular at the club on such an enormous fixture. The red card, which may have dented Mashiane’s confidence, also dashed any chances of Kaizer Chiefs becoming only the third PSL club to win the prestigious title.
Youngster’s Exclusion Focus.
With the 2021/22 DStv Premiership campaign underway, Kaizer Chiefs have played more than five games this season. As things stand, the club’s fortunes are yet to change as Baxter is not getting the desired results. Although it is still early days, Baxter’s exclusion of young and promising prospects has been a widespread cause for concern. For instance, attacking midfielder Nkosingiphile Ngcobo who was a starter for Kaizer Chiefs during the last season is yet to become a regular for the club in the current season.
Meanwhile, right-back Reeve Frosler, midfielder Sabelo Radebe and defender Sibusiso Mabiliso form as part of the other young players who continue to be sidelined under Baxter’s leadership of the club albeit some individual progress for each of these players in recent times.
Although central midfielder and Kaizer Chiefs development alum Given Thibedi was initially recalled from his loan spell at Swallows Football Club (FC), Baxter decided against keeping him, and thereafter, he rejoined Swallows on a permanent basis. Other young players who have been sent on loan by the club include defensive midfielder Darrel Matsheke, midfielder Lebohang Lesako as well as midfielder Keletso Sifama.
It would appear that Baxter currently believes more in senior players as goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma and central midfielder Njabulo Blom are the only Kaizer Chiefs development alums who have been afforded reasonable game time this season. Ngezana remains out on injury, while Mashiane is yet to play.
Further, while Mabiliso, alongside some of his Kaizer Chiefs teammates represented South Africa in the Tokyo Olympics, Baxter has not made him a starter as he seems to prefer the 31-year-old Sifiso Hlanti over him. Mabiliso was, however, given a chance against Royal AM Football Club, coming in from the bench while the team was on the backfoot. Sadly, the youngster scored an own-goal presumably owing to the pressure of being thrown in the deep end in one of the club’s worst performances during the PSL era.
Moreover, it remains to be seen whether Baxter will change the club’s fortunes for the better. Currently, his selections and apparent exclusion of youngsters could cause an upset with the club’s agitated supporters.
The coach’s questionable decisions where Kaizer Chiefs’ young players are concerned could likely place a cloud of uncertainty over their futures should the coach continue with this approach, while he faces immense pressures, externally, to afford the club’s young players a chance to solidify their places in the team.
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