It’s May, and the Kaizer Chiefs are still keeping supporters in suspense and anticipation. Who will be the next coach? The list of reported candidates includes three South African coaches.
REPORTED FAVOURITES TO COACH KAIZER CHIEFS
According to recent reports, Amakhosi’s long list of reported targets includes a couple of leading favourites. Two of them are the Portuguese Rui Vitoria. Why are Kaizer Chiefs attracted to this 54-year-old with no DStv Premiership experience, you ask? Vitoria boasts the valuable experience of coaching massive clubs like FC Porto and Benfica in Portugal, where he won leagues and major trophies.
Another reported favourite to take over at Kaizer Chiefs is another Portuguese: Jose Peseiro. Similarly to Vitoria, Peseiro has lifted major trophies with big clubs like Sporting Lisbon, Real Madrid and SC Braga.
But what about local coaches? Reports have revealed Amakhosi are considering three names.
THREE SOUTH AFRICAN COACHES LINKED WITH AMAKHOSI
Top of the local list is the great Pitso Mosimane.
The Kagiso-born coach holds the record as the only DStv Premiership coach with five league titles. Legends like Gavin Hunt, Gordon Igesund and Ted Dumitru have four each. Additionally, Mosimane is the only coach in CAF Champions League history with three titles. Is he the best candidate for Kaizer Chiefs?
Meanwhile, the former Mamelodi Sundowns tactician joined Abha Club in February. He signed a four-month deal with the mission to save the club from relegation.
Second on the local names for Kaizer Chiefs is Manqoba Mngqithi. The current Sundowns assistant in the final month of his contract with Kabo Yellow, his agent Mike Makaab said Sundowns are yet to offer a new deal, and Amakhosi are yet to call his phone.
Last but not least: Benni McCarthy. The Manchester United striker’s coach is expected to leave the English giants when his contract expires on 30 June. Kaizer Chiefs are thought to be monitoring the situation.
“For me there’s only two South Africans who could take the job at Chiefs – Pitso and Benni,” McCarthy’s agent Rob Moore said via iDiski Times.
“Benni, because of his personality, because of the respect that players have for him, his ability to manage a locker room, his ability to call a game during a game-situation. But we’re talking about in Pitso and Benni, two very strong characters, and who want things done and want things done properly. Their tolerance levels are low for things that aren’t done properly.
“So again, is [Kaizer] Chiefs a 100% ready for that?
“I’m just purely saying from a South African [candidate] points of view – guys who know the league, know the country, have an intimate knowledge of where a club like Kaizer Chiefs needs to be because they know historically and they’ve experienced it and been in the middle of it,” Moore concluded.