Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane has hit back at former coach Stuart Baxter, saying he “doesn’t care” about his comments.
The former Amakhosi coach had an interview with SABC Sport that was published earlier in the week where he spoke in reaction to comments by club chairman Kaizer Motaung, who had stated that Baxter was released because of his reluctance to play younger players and the Scotsman’s poor relationship with fans.
Baxter reacted by telling SABC Sport that he was not sacked but realised certain “agendas” were going on and lead to his departure, also opening up on his complicated relationship with Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr.
He also claimed that when he was out with Covid in December, Zwane and Dillan Sheppard were coaching the team under Motaung Jr.’s guidance. On Thursday, Chiefs had an open media day during which Zwane addressed Baxter’s comments and tried to put the record straight.
“I must say I’m a little bit disappointed. But to be quite honest I don’t care. I don’t really care because we are here, we’re in the business of football,” Zwane said.
“When I listen to him [Baxter] carefully to what was said on radio the problem started when he was sick. So if I am to break it down how it all started, it’s simple. He’s actually exposing himself because that weekend we were playing against Swallows I was also sick, then coach ‘Sheppie’ followed.
“When we were supposed to play a game against Cape Town City [which they didn’t honour] I was still recovering, coach Sheppie was still recovering.
“When you look at the starting XI against Swallows, Ntiya-Nyiya was in the team, Happy Mashiane went in, most of the youngsters played because we already had Covid cases.
“Unfortunately the following weekend that number increased. I was one of those who was sick. We had to play the game against Arrows after the Cape Town City game that we couldn’t because we didn’t have players.
“Just before my first day back at training, because now there was now obviously pressure from outside that we should play in terms of the rules that time, we had to now get 11 players. That time, if my memory serves me well, we only had a few players to play, when I arrived at training we had seven players available to play.
“Some of the players had to isolate for being in close contact, some came back and then we managed to have about 13 players, but we know some wouldn’t even be able to last.
“We had to come up with a starting XI and it couldn’t balance in terms of positions, so we had to take players like Njabulo Blom into the middle, start with Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, we had to start with many other players who were not playing regularly.
“We only trained for one day, then played and won against Sekhukhune. As other players, seniors were also now recovering, we went to Royal AM and we lost 1-0.
“That time when you have players who are much fitter than those who were sick, there was no way to have players who were not ready for 90 minutes, we had to manage some.
“But we were told, ‘you have to play this one’. But how can you tell people ‘you have to play so and so when you’re sitting at home and you’re also sick’ and then say the team was going in another direction and then we came in and changed direction? No, those were the players that were available.”
Zwane also insisted that Baxter “must own up” and not try to “shift the blame” for his Chiefs departure.
“Unfortunately we’re discussing this toady. I’m a little bit disappointed because people, they must just own up. If things didn’t work out, they didn’t work out,” he added.
“You don’t have to shift the blame and point fingers. He’s the one who said he didn’t want the young players. I don’t know why he was saying that.
“if he wants us to challenge him head on, then we will because they come here and attack us and expect us to keep quiet.”
