After he was announced as new Kaizer Chiefs coach, Stuart Baxter has apologised again for his “stupid” comments using a rape analogy during his time in India.
The 67-year-old was fired by Odisha in February after using foul language in a post-match press conference.
“I think one of my players would have to rape someone or get raped himself if he was going to get a penalty,” he said at the time, causing a public outcry in both India and South Africa – two countries suffering the highest rape rates all over the world.
Baxter has now used the opportunity to again apologise about his “insensitive” comments.
“Hi, given the unfortunate nature of my exit from India, and the unfortunate comments, and to be very honest, stupid comments that I made, I felt strongly that I needed to make another apology before re commencing my work in South Africa. Anything that I said that offended anybody, I humbly apologize,” he told the club’s media department.
“I know that it (rape) is a heinous crime that I it looked like I was making light of I was not. I was not, that was absolutely not my intention. That does not reflect me as a person. But I do know that many people were upset.
“And for that, I’m truly sorry. In the future, there will not be an issue with me making such clumsy, unsensitive and downright stupid comments. I really hope that anyone that was offended by my insensitive words, will accept this really heartfelt apology. Thank you.”
Four weeks after iDiski Times senior writer Velile Mnyandu revealed that Chiefs are thinking about replacing Gavin Hunt with Baxter, the Englishman agreed to a two-year contract at Naturena with an option to extend it by another two years.
It is his second stint with the club after lifting four trophies during his first spell with the Glamour Boys between 2012 and 2015.
