Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung has given his assessment about coach Arthur Zwane’s first season in charge, saying he is “definitely doing a good job” under tough circumstances.
Zwane was appointed by Chiefs at the beginning of the 2022/23 campaign on a three-deal, having finished last season as the caretaker coach following the dismissal of coach Stuart Baxter.
Chiefs took the next step towards ending their trophy drought under Zwane after the former star winger guided Amakhosi to the semi-final of the Nedbank Cup this past weekend, the first time Chiefs are in the last four of the Ke Yona Cup since the 2018/19 season.
The Soweto giants will now meet their bitter rivals – Orlando Pirates in the semi-final next month, looking to end their trophy drought since 2014/15 season.
They have not won this cup since beating SuperSport United in the 2012/13 season and Zwane but there seems to be a new lease of life at Naturena, with Motaung rating Zwane’s stint positively, insisting they know success won’t come overnight.
“We’ve assembled a new team, he’s a new coach, we need to give him time,” Motaung said.
“And we need to build on what we started. So we believe in him, that’s why we have him here.
“If we didn’t believe in him, we would never have given him a chance. I think we believed in him, and we have to help him and build the team with him, it’s about the future.
“I mean if you look at the team, I mean it’s a young team. We only can help him and support him with any support system that he needs or technical support, we’ll support him.
“But he’s definitely doing a good job as you can see.”
To top what Zwane has achieved this season with this newly-assembled squad, he has defeated Pirates in both league matches, keeping a clean sheet twice to strengthen his case, leading Motaung to say Zwane has a “bright future” in the coaching industry.
“No, I think we said that we’re building a new squad for the future,” revealed Motaung.
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“So, we have to give them [the players] a chance. Even the youngsters, most of them are only adapting now.
“Some of them have not even adapted to the pressure and style of Kaizer Chiefs. So, it’s just ongoing progress in terms of looking at how we can help him to grow.
“We’re putting him up there not to set him up but we’re putting him up there to build him. So, I think he’s got a bright future ahead of him.”
Amakhosi are fourth in the DStv Premiership table with 41 points after 25 matches, two points behind Pirates, who occupy the second CAF Champions League slot.
