Upheaval as Coach and Major Players Part Ways with Kaizer Chiefs

The football community has reacted with shock this morning as Kaizer Chiefs (KC) announced they are parting ways with several key players, as well as confirming that coach Stuart Baxter is leaving the team even though there was still one year left on his contract.

It was revealed at a press conference this morning that Itumeleng Khune, Tefu Mashamaite and Mandla Masango will all leave; and that the contract between Baxter and the Club has been terminated.

Despite many friendly hashtag #thankyou’s from KC on Twitter to the various Club members that are leaving, it was clear that not all terminations have ended on friendly terms.

During the conference KC Executive Chairman Kaizer Motaung said: “We cannot be held ransom by anyone, it does not take one or two players to make a team.”

He said Tefu Mashamaite’s contract negotiations were unsuccessful, and said “figures were now being inflated because of the Agent percentages”.  Motaung said that “we look after our players well. I can be proved wrong but Itu [Khune], last season, was the highest paid player.” He also revealed that “Mandla was made an offer and we made a counter offer and then he came back with another counter offer.”

Motaung said “we understand that life should go and people should be free to move on.”

Many speculated that had KC kept Khune and Mashamaite then Baxter would have remained.

Football Manager Bobby Motaung thanked Baxter for the journey and success. During Baxter’s tenure the Club won two PSL titles, one MTN8 cup and the Nedbank cup. Motaung said “I have worked with the Coach for the past three years, it has been wonderful, no problems, just different views.”

In confirming the termination of Baxter’s contract, Kaizer Motaung explained that “we sat down and we agreed that it is time for change and time to move on” and that “working relations are good and we have no issues to worry about”.

He said it had been a “season of greatness, breaking all records” and that this had been achieved “because of team work”.

Baxter, who flew back from a holiday in Sweden for the conference, refuted recent rumours that he will be taking up a position with a team in Turkey, saying that he will be looking for job but that first “I will go back to Sweden and take a rest”.

Fans reacted on Twitter saying that the only time a “person resigns with no job lined up is when you’re fed up”.

Baxter said “I don’t want to point fingers and spoil a great 3 year journey” and stressed that “the players have been excellent, no point where I have been disappointed in them.”

He said he would have “no problem working in South Africa again in the near future” and that he wants to leave on a “good note”.

Other partings from the club include Katlego Mphela, Josa Dladla and Siybona’ Nkosi.

Phakamani Mngadi will go back to Belgium side AS Eupen, and most of the players from development will be loaned out during the next season.

According to KC a new coach has not yet been found.

UPDATE 2 JUNE 2015: Outgoing KC players Masango, Mashamaite and Kuhne have all been selected for the Bafana Bafana national football team that will face Gambia and then Angola. The team was announced this afternoon.