OPINION: Don’t dump Zwane, let him serve as deputy to Pitso at Chiefs
If Kaizer Chiefs do shake up their coaching staff, recruiting Pitso Mosimane to work with Arthur Zwane would be a great move. On Monday, leading SABC Sport journalist Mazola Molefe dropped the bombshell that Chiefs are weighing up coaching changes after a season that has not lived up to expectations, and that has seen no trophies brought […]
If Kaizer Chiefs do shake up their coaching staff, recruiting Pitso Mosimane to work with Arthur Zwane would be a great move.
On Monday, leading SABC Sport journalist Mazola Molefe dropped the bombshell that Chiefs are weighing up coaching changes after a season that has not lived up to expectations, and that has seen no trophies brought to Naturena.
“According to insiders, Chiefs are likely to exhaust all other alternatives in searching for a coach and failing which, Zwane, who worked his way up as a youth tactician at Naturena after retiring, could get a stay of execution…but with a tight leash,” the SABC Sport report suggested.
BREAKING: Zwane could face the axe as Chiefs coach
Recently, Chiefs have been knocked out of the Nedbank Cup by Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates, while this past weekend’s defeat to SuperSport United obliterated any hopes of finishing in the top three of the DStv Premiership.
The Soweto side are now seven log points behind third-placed SuperSport United, with just one game left in their league season.
This news comes just days after other shock reports out of Saudi Arabia suggested Al Ahli President Walid Moaz has decided to “betray” Mosimane by beginning the search for a new coach at a time when many would have expected an extension to his initial one-year contract.
Despite the popular South African coach leading Al Ahli back into the Pro League, iDiski Times has reported that the word from Saudi media suggests that the club will not renew Mosimane’s contract.
ALSO READ | Pitso ‘betrayed’? Mosimane set for shock Al Ahli exit – report
PITSO IN, ZWANE OUT AT CHIEFS?
Understandably, with talk of Mosimane perhaps getting ready for a new challenge, there have been increasing calls from frustrated Amakhosi fans for the bosses at Chiefs to do everything in their power to bring him to Naturena.
Although there has been repeated support shown to Zwane by the club’s upper hierarchy throughout this inconsistent season, there does appear to be substance to the rumours that faith in ‘10111’ is starting to wane.
ALSO READ | Is there anything left for Kaizer Chiefs to play for?
Yet, if there is to be a coaching shake-up at Chiefs, it would seem premature to completely axe Zwane from a team setup that he has come to know so well.
Recruiting Mosimane would be a massive coup for Kaizer Chiefs and there can be no doubt that he would be the sort of high-profile coach who would add massive value and experience at the Soweto giants.
Although the veteran coach would undoubtedly want to work with his trusted group of management lieutenants, Chiefs would surely also benefit from retaining the services of Zwane in some capacity, perhaps as an assistant or ‘director of football’ who could dovetail with Mosimane.
ALSO READ | Gavin Hunt savours victory over Kaizer Chiefs: ‘3 points never tasted so sweet’
When Mosimane also spoke recently about his future, he deflected questions to his wife and agent Moira Tlhagale, who wasn’t giving much away.
“I think South Africa knows that normally we wake up and then there is an action, so let’s not spoil the surprise. Let’s leave it at that, we’re still cooking some stuff,” she said.
“[The] Mission has been accomplished but where to from here? Let’s just leave it [at that], we’ll announce.”
ALSO READ | Motaung: Chiefs’ ‘rebuilding’ season was ‘disappointing’
*Click on the ‘comment’ button at the end of this article to let us know whether you think Chiefs should recruit Mosimane, and if you feel Zwane should then stay or go.