OPINION: Lessons for Kaizer Chiefs as they rebuild this great club
For so many reasons, I’ve always juxtaposed Kaizer Chiefs’ rebuild with Manchester United’s.
The two are, without a doubt, great clubs and the biggest in their respective countries.
Of course, you’ll have someone argue that Liverpool is bigger or Orlando Pirates, but that’s not the point.
Interestingly, both clubs have not won the league title for eight years.
Among many reasons, I’ve always come down to the issue of poor scouting networks, as evidenced by the kind of players they sign.
In United’s case, they have blown over R21 billion in transfer fees over the last 10 years, but it has yielded zilch.
On the other hand, Kaizer Chiefs’ approach over the years has been to sign free agents and reasonably priced players. Not necessarily the best players in the market.
In England, Manchester City have done things right, hiring a brilliant coach and signing the right players for his system.
Locally, Mamelodi Sundowns have done the same. Of course, they have flaws, but they have maintained the same coaching staff for years until Pitso Mosimane’s departure.
Even still, there was continuity when Mosimane left after eight years at the helm. Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena continued.
They continue to sign players suiting their system and playing style.
Only this season, United look like they’re back, and there are a few lessons one can draw from their revival.
HIRING A BRILLIANT COACH TO LEAD THE REBUILD
They have hired a brilliant coach to lead the rebuild. From day one, even when Manchester United lost 4-0 to Brentford, you got the sense Erik ten Hag had a plan.
The Dutchman declared he wanted the team to be “dominating” opponents as he set out his vision for where the club will be in two years.
The Dutchman knows his project is still in its infancy but is confident his players will be regularly “dictating games” before long.
“It has to be a proactive way, proactive football and that we are dominating and dictating games against all our competitors, so at the highest level. That is a perfect challenge, so when you get that style into the squad, we’ll also see that players develop to higher levels.
“The improvement not only has to come from being successful in the transfer market. That is definitely a part of it, but it also has to come from the improvement we get from coaching. That’s it, by managing, by coaching, by training,” the former Ajax Amsterdam coach said.
Fascinatingly, United have gone the same route Chiefs are in. They have previously hired a legend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who witnessed success under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Arthur Zwane, the current Chiefs coach, knows how it feels to win trophies at Naturena.
But sentimentalism has never won trophies. There’s no magic in football. The game rewards investing everything necessary in it.
THEY SIGNED THE RIGHT PLAYERS FOR THE SYSTEM
The way Manchester United recruited this time around was for the system, and it’s working. Lisandro Martinez is a highly technical player whose mix of aggressive and physical defending makes him the epitome of a modern-day defender. Casemiro is easily one of the best defensive midfielders in the world at the moment. Christian Eriksen has also been sensational before his injury. I could go on and on, but the truth of the matter is that Ten Hag’s signings have transformed the team.
On the other hand, I’ve never understood the signings Chiefs made this season. It’s nothing to do with whether they’re good enough or not. My question has always been, how does Zwane want to play? Do these plays suit the style he wants to play?
Further to that, who is responsible for scouting and signing players? I honestly don’t think any of the signings have improved the team.
CREATING A GOOD IDENTITY OR CLEAR PLAYING PATTERNS
I remember Zwane saying it was essential to find their identity, which he warned would take time.
“The identity is very key. If you look at the teams dominating all over the world, there’s identity,” Zwane said in April last year.
“If you go in there with one intention, to go and dominate and win games, it will take a while to get to the level everyone would expect it to be, but eventually, it will be there. Because there’s continuity, there’s a way of playing. There’s a way of understanding in terms of players and tactical approach.”
Almost a year down the line, it’s yet to happen. While he did say it would take time, I’m sure he also understood how impatient Chiefs fans are. They want results.
Countless times, I’ve asked colleagues in the industry what they think is Zwane’s preferred style of play. No one knows at this point.
PUTTING TOGETHER THE RIGHT COACHING UNIT
When Ten Hag was appointed manager of United, he insisted he wanted to work with Steve McLaren, a veteran coach who previously worked with Sir Alex. Being his first job in the EPL, he needed someone who understood the English game.
Our own Benni McCarthy came in as a strikers’ coach. In Zwane’s case, he came in with Dillon Sheppard, who is equally a greenhorn at this level of the game.
A few weeks ago, I alluded that it would possibly help to have Zwane work with an experienced coach next to him. Perhaps as an assistant.
Across town, at Sundowns, Rulani Mokwena is assisted by two veteran coaches, Mngqithi and Steve Komphela. That says a lot.
NO SUBSTITUTE FOR GOOD COACHING
Again, I’ll turn to Ten Hag for my examples because Man United fans are the noisiest, and everyone knows something good is happening under Ten Hag.
And one thing is clear, United’s players who were pathetic under Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick are all of a sudden looking world-class.
Marcus Rashford scored five goals last season, and he’s already on 24 this season as United plays in four competitions. It’s all down to good coaching.
Aaron Wan Bissaka, Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes and Fred look better than they were last season. It’s no coincidence. It’s good coaching.
It’s difficult to point to a player who’s seemingly benefited from good coaching at Chiefs this season. I’m not sure I see one. Maybe I’m being too harsh, but I’m happy if someone can point those out.
CONCLUSION
That said, perhaps with time, Zwane can develop into a top coach. Undoubtedly, he knows what it takes to win trophies. But clearly, it’ll take a bit of time before he gets it right. He’ll make mistakes along the way, but it demands patience from management and the fans.
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