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JOHANNESBURG. — Stuart Baxter is going to “change Kaizer Chiefs”‚ and make them competitive.
And, in all likelihood, the coach will help them challenge for the South African Premiership title.
Kaitano Tembo — groomed as a head coach having previously been a long-time assistant to many bosses at SuperSport‚ including Baxter — said an Amakhosi, bolstered their squad by new signings, will be hard to beat for any team.
“Chiefs are always a big team and they have gone into the market and brought in players to bolster their squad, in terms of quality,” the Zimbabwean told a press conference, ahead of Matsatsantsa’s season-opening MTN8 quarter-final against Golden Arrows, on Saturday.
“Probably, they will be challenging for the league title as well.
“So, we’ve got to do what we have to do, to make sure that we stay within that group‚ which means we’ve got to work a bit more‚ and a bit harder.”
Tembo said Baxter‚ also returning for his second spell at Chiefs‚ had been influential in his progress, as a head coach.
As a partnership Baxter and Tembo won the Nedbank Cup in 2016 and 2017 at Matsatsantsa.
“I’ve worked with him‚ I think I owe a lot to my progress, and development as a coach, to him as well‚” he said.
“I know that he is going to change Chiefs — Chiefs are going to be very competitive this season.
“And believe you me‚ knowing him they are going to be very difficult to play against.
“The season is going to be very interesting. I believe that Chiefs will be up there challenging for the league‚ and each and every cup game as, well.
“So, we are looking forward to a very interesting season.”
Baxter was the last coach to win silverware at Chiefs before their six-season trophy drought, with league and cup doubles, in 2012-13 and 2014-15.
Tembo won the 2019 MTN8 trophy‚ and has steered the Tshwane team to sixth‚ fifth and fifth in the league.
SuperSport United have been quiet in the transfer market.
The club are taking a different approach, by grooming youngsters, instead of signing established players.
Tembo said they were tightening their budget and will rely on the services of academy players in the 2021/22 Premiership campaign.
He said he would rely on senior players — Ronwen Williams, Thamsanqa Gabuza, Sipho Mbule, Teboho Mokoena, Siyabonga Nhlapo, and Bradley Grobler — to guide the youngsters.
Keenan Phillips, 22, Gape Moralo, 21, Jamie Webber, 23, Luke Fleurs, 21, Jesse Donn, 22, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, 22, Oswin Reagan,19, and Selaelo Rasebotja, 20, are some of the youngsters the Zimbabwean mentor will throw into the deep end.
Last season, they lost senior players Clayton Daniels, Grant Kekana and Evans Rusike.
“We are taking a different direction considering what has been happening with Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have a limited budget and cannot spend money as we used to. We decided to promote young players and work with what we have — the talent from the academy.
“Everyone at the club is pulling in the same direction,” said Tembo via a virtual press conference yesterday.
Tembo said he would be smart with man management to help his players not to burn out from fatigue.
“Our young players gained valuable experience last season, and we expect them to play a pivotal role now. — Sowetan Live
Online Reporter