Wednesday | June 9, 2021
There is a saying that goes like: “there is no better place than home”. Even though South Africa is not the English coach’s native home, it sure is a familiar sporting pasture. Stuart Baxter has traced his steps and found his way back to Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (FC) on a two-year deal.
Just well over five years ago, Stuart Baxter left Chiefs on a high with a couple of silverwares to flaunt. Since then, Amakhosi, Chiefs’ affectionate name, have become a shadow of their former heydays.
Today, the management of the club unveiled, yet again, their once-upon-a-time successful coach who brought them the glory days.
As stated by the club:
“The English coach was in charge of Chiefs from 2012 to 2015. During his first stint with the Club, he won several trophies with Amakhosi, including two league titles in 2012/13 and 2014/15, the Nedbank Cup in 2012/13 and MTN8 during the 2014/15 season.”
Baxter brought more to Chiefs than they could ever master once he was gone. It is no surprise to see him in these familiar shores. They had to hunt him down to end the jinx that has befallen them.
This 2020/21 campaign the Soweto giant made it to the top eight finishers in the elite league through the eye of the needle, so to speak. They nearly did not cross that line in squeezing and wiggling strife. This after finishing as runners-up on the league title the previous season which cross-town rivals Mamelodi Sundowns FC snatched at their proverbial jaws on the final day of the greatest showdown in these games.
The English coach takes over from supremely acclaimed Gavin Hunt who came in with high expectations. He misfired bar qualifying Amakhosi to the semi-finals of the Champions League under the auspices of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Hunt was released from his contract with two games left to complete the league season.
His assistant coaches, Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard, who have been retained to work with Baxter, were in charge of those remaining league fixtures.
Bafana Bafana reunion in Naturena
On his return to Chiefs, Baxter will cross paths with his assistant during his stint as head coach of South African senior national men’s team (Bafana Bafana) Molefi Ntseki. Upon his exit, Ntseki ascended to national head coach seat only to be acrimoniously dismissed recently.
Then on May 31, over a week ago, Chiefs enlisted him [Molefi Ntseki] as the Club’s Head of Technical and Youth Development Academy on a 3-year contract. According to the club’s statement, Ntseki will also help Baxter to revive the fortunes of the club.
These renewal of football vows between Stuart Baxter and Kaizer Chiefs seems to have lifted hope among the desperate if for despondent fans. Will the former repeat his unleash his magic wand and herald Chiefs to the dizzy heights, where they belonged? Time awaits with voracious anticipation.