Zwane’s Chiefs job ‘safe’ … for now [update]

Kaizer Chiefs’ topsy turvy 2022/23 season reached its conclusion last weekend with the team finishing fifth in the final DStv Premiership standings, following a 1-0 defeat against Cape Town City at FNB Stadium.

Despite the disappointment on the day, coach Arthur Zwane said he felt that he had learned a lot over the course of his first season at the helm of a top-flight professional side.

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As reported by SABC Sport earlier this month, though, Chiefs were said to be weighing up coaching changes after a season that has not lived up to expectations, and that has seen no trophies brought to Naturena.

The report suggested that high-ranking sources were weighing up whether to dramatically axe the head coach after just one season in the top job.

Yet it’s now reported by Phakaaathi that after a meeting with management and club bosses last week, it has been decided that Zwane will retain his job… at least for now.

“The meeting sat on Tuesday and after extensive talks, he emerged as the coach and still enjoys the full support of the management. He is safe,” said the source. 

“He understands the job very well. He knows he needs to end the trophy drought and get the team playing attractive football. And he is hopeful that when he has his new signings and gets a few strikers, he will be alright.” 

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Chiefs communications manager Vina Maphosa also recently reiterated the club would continue to back the head coach.

“As things stand Arthur Zwane remains coach of Kaizer Chiefs. We’re not even at this stage contemplating changing,” he told Radio2000, as quoted by iDiski Times. “There is a lot of investment in what we’re trying to do, and part of that investment is on coach Arthur Zwane himself.

“Also, just to mention that coach Arthur Zwane is not isolated in this discussion, we as a club we are one in this matter, we talk with one voice. We’re not here to protect the coach, the coach is doing his job, he’s contracted to the club and he was appointed for a particular reason.

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Chiefs have used ‘rebuilding’ as an excuse of sorts

Chiefs manager Bobby Motaung has also stated that the club’s rebuilding process could never just be a success overnight. However, he admitted that the season was ultimately still a disappointment.

“Next season we are definitely going to beef up the squad and look at where the challenges were. Football is a journey. It is not an overnight or one-day thing, it is a process and we are on that journey,” he commented in his interview with TimesLive.

“Fifty-three years of Chiefs success is experience that we have had and we know where we are going. We are aware that it has been a disappointing season, but it was a rebuilding season. The experience the coaches and players gathered will help us going forward.”

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HOW THINGS FINISHED ON THE DSTV PREMIERSHIP LOG

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