Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane has singled out the biggest lessons he has learned from the club’s chairman, Kaizer Motaung Snr, which have helped him stay strong in the face of adversity.
Zwane was in charge of Amakhosi during the 2022/23 PSL season, his first term as head coach of the senior team.
He had risen through the coaching ranks at the club before he was handed the reins following the departure of Stuart Baxter. Zwane faced turbulent times as the club’s trophy drought extended under his watch.
However, Zwane has remained positive throughout, and he credits Motaung Snr with giving him the strength to do so.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a luncheon for Kaizer Chiefs legends last week, where the club’s yesteryear stars were celebrating Motaung’s Hall of Fame achievement.
WHAT TRAITS DID ARTHUR ZWANE LEARN FROM KAIZER MOTAUNG?
“He’s [Dr Kaizer Motaung] something special and a giant. He’s touched many lives and changed many of our lives,” Zwane told FARPost. “I always tell people there’s a difference between a talented person and a gifted person. A gifted person is powerful spiritually. He is gifted.
“He’s helped a lot of people and paved the way for us. He’s left a very powerful legacy. His contribution [to the game and people’s lives] is immense. It’s incomparable.
“We thank God for keeping him this long. He’s a giant.” Zwane says, over the years, he noted how the Chiefs founder remains calm even in the midst of pressure.
“Dr Motaung taught me to remain humble even when chips are down and when there’s pressure. He’s not a person that panics. He’s always looking for solutions. The man is not judgmental. Always trying to improve as an individual,” explained Zwane.
“I’ve seen a lot of people that have said a lot of things, bad things. But he’s not judgmental. None of that changes him. He’s always positive.”
Zwane was recently redeployed to the club’s youth structures after functioning as an assistant coach at the start of the season.
Motaung Snr is a revered figure in South African football, and his influence on Zwane is clear to see. Zwane’s ability to stay positive under pressure is a testament to the lessons he has learned from his mentor.
Meanwhile, Zwane stressed that, after 23 years at the DStv Premiership club, his commitment “will always be unwavering”.
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