Kaizer Chiefs legend Siphiwe Tshabalala believes that Amakhosi’s next coach should align with the club in terms of philosophy and not the other way around.
Chiefs are in the process of appointing a new coach after parting ways with interim co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef last week. The two took over from Nasreddine Nabi who left the club early in the recently concluded campaign having helped break a 10-year trophy drought at Naturena.
A familiar face in Fernando Cruz is set to be handed the reins at the Amakhosi hotseat having previously arrived with Nabi before leaving abruptly to take up a post at the Moroccan FA.
The duo led Amakhosi to a third-place finish in the league, their highest finish since 2020, which also meant they qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup for a second term in a row.
Tshabalala believes that the club should get someone whose philosophy and identity doesn’t clash.
“There has to be a buy-in from the coach because if you have a buy-in from the club, the coach would represent his own philosophy, his own plan, and if he does not find success in that, he’s going to leave,” said Shabba.
“And whoever comes in they’re going to change and bring their own philosophy, so there won’t be progress in that regard. But if it’s the club, you know, these are the values of the club, this is the philosophy of the club, this is the identity, we work on that.”
The 41-year-old also reflected on Chiefs’ season saying third place wasn’t exactly great however good when one considers where the club comes from in previous campaigns.
‘Shabba’ added that the competition levels are higher in the league and next season they are going to have to compete on all fronts and that whoever the new coach is needs to know there will be pressure and less patience from supporters.
“So, this season it’s war. There’ll be more pressure as well and they should take it and embrace it,” added Tshabalala.
“And whoever comes in, also they understand that they are coming into an environment where there’s pressure and where there’s less patience from the fans and the players must step up quickly.
“So there has to be a buy in as well from the players and also buy in from the coach, and I hope they’ll understand the philosophy as quick as possible.
“But, like I said before, the most important thing when it comes to the philosophy and the identity is that the coach must have a buy-in from the club, not the other way around.”
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