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beginning of 2012/13 season.
Baxter guided Amakhosi to a League and Cup double this campaign and the hard tackling midfielder is full of praise for the work the Briton has done with players behind the scenes.
From an individual point of view, the 27-year-old highlights what Baxter has done for his game.
“I’m very grateful to him. I think this has been my best season since arriving in South Africa in 2010 and it is all credit to the coach, because he’s done a lot to help improve my game,” the 27-year-old says.
“He assisted in identifying my strong points. When Chiefs bought me from Ajax I was playing as a number 8, not a 6. I was even played at right back and centre back and as a professional, I had to adjust.
“But Stuart put me in as a defensive midfielder and told me to avoid making unnecessary tackles, which was my weak point at the time,” Katsande acknowledges. “I’m very happy now, but I’m definitely not satisfied.”
Katsande led the “Zora Butter” dance as he celebrated at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday after Chiefs beat SuperSport United 1-0 to lift the Nedbank Cup before a capacity crowd.
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs coach Baxter reckons the Nedbank Cup final on Saturday at Moses Mabhida Stadium was value for money for the many fans that came out in numbers.
Chiefs beat SuperSport United 1-0 in extra-time to complete a League and Cup Double for the 2012/13 season.
Baxter reflects: “I think both sets of players deserve a pat on the back for delivering such a good game of football. I don’t see that many games that are competitive and give and take as the Final.
“I’m happy with the players’ performance and I’m happy to come out on the winning side,” he says.
The Briton further says the Cup win completes a “satisfying” season for him and his charges.
“I got to say we’ve done a decent job, even though towards the end of the season we were dragging ourselves over the line. Next season it’s back to scratch and we have to try to improve on what we got.
“I think it is good to come to a club and win a Double in your first season . . . It’s good at the moment and it can be better,” Baxter concludes.
And SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt admits it is hard to take after losing their second Cup Final of the season following their 1-0 loss to Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup on Saturday in Durban.
Earlier in the season, Matsatsantsa went down 2-1 to Moroka Swallows in the MTN8 Final played in September and Hunt, who is set for a “big meeting” with management today with his future top of the agenda, was gutted after falling at the last hurdle yet again.
“To come so far and win nothing this season is disappointing,” Hunt admits. However, the 48-year-old praised his players for giving Chiefs a run for their money on the day but in the same breathe heaped praise on his counterpart Baxter for the latter’s job in only his first season at the club.
“I thought we ran them close. Before they scored we had three really good chances, but certainly for me Chiefs have been the best side this season. Stuart has got them going again,” he says. Hunt adds: “From my point of view, we gave all we got. I can’t fault my players. They were magnificent,” he adds. Kick-off.com
Online Reporter