Baxter Discusses Next Job – iDiski Times

Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has addressed what’s next for him after his stint at Naturena, saying he’s “still well equipped to remain in South Africa”.

The 68-year-old spoke exclusively to David Kappel in edition 55 of our newspaper, which you get for free at every Shoprite in Gauteng, while you can also read the free digital version online.

Baxter discussed a wide range of topics, including his departure from the Glamour Boys, his biggest disappointment and differences between his first and second stint at the club, time with Bafana Bafana, his impeccable record against Orlando Pirates – as well as his relationship with South African football fans.

The Englishman also revealed that he has already been approached about potential new jobs but is still contemplating his future.

“I’ve had certain approaches that I’ve contemplated,” he told iDiski Times (you can read the full interview here). 

“You try and think ‘well, is it better for me to get back straight into work or should I chill for a while and make sure I’m not making a bad decision.’ 

“But then you do that and in three or four months’ time, you don’t have an offer. So then you’re left sort of wishing that you’d taken the one a couple of months back.”

Baxter also insisted that he still feels fit and well-equipped to take on another job in South Africa, while also revealing what former Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger warned him about.

“As long as I have the passion to want to withstand those arrows and bullets that get fired at you if you fail on the field, then I want to do it. Because I want to do that as long as I can,” he added.

“What I don’t want it to be is an untimely decision, Arsene [Wenger] warned me about being stubborn as he’d reflected on that many times at Arsenal. 

“I said, ‘I will look at myself, I will say, is there genuinely the passion there to keep on going?’ Because if there is, I’m fit, I’m alert and there is no reason (for me to quit). 

“I mean, I understand the modern game. I’m not locked into a 4-4-2 from 15, 20 years ago, and I can adapt. I’ve gone with the game and the developments that are happening in the game, I’m well addressed in that. 

“I’m still well equipped to remain in South Africa. After my experience with Chiefs, it would have to be a project that I thought that I could get my teeth into, that I understand.”

Story by David Kappel

To read the full interview with Stuart Baxter, as well as other exclusives with Rulani Mokwena, Dan Malesela and Zitha Kwinika, read our FREE digital version of the iDiski Times newspaper.

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