Former Kaizer Chiefs head coach Stuart Baxter has broken his silence on the deep-seated dysfunction at Naturena, describing the club’s current leadership structure as a landscape of “smoke and mirrors.”
Baxter suggests that the club needs to allow its coaches to do their job without interference, citing his first stint at the club as a prime example of what they need to do.
The Soweto giants are in a tough spot, having lost four games on the bounce in both the CAF Confederation Cup and the PSL.
As it stands, they are in sixth place on the Betway Premiership log standings. And the gap at the summit remains daunting for the chasing pack, including Chiefs. They themselves trailing log leaders Orlando Pirates and second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns by a massive 17 points with 10 games remaining in the league.
This slump of defeats has put Kaze and Ben Youssef under the microscope, with some fans pointing fingers their way. To make matters worse, the coaching duo is now under immense pressure to secure a second-place finish and steer the team back into the CAF Champions League next season.
And the frustration among the Amakhosi faithful reached a breaking point this past weekend, as a group of disgruntled supporters marched to the Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena. Handing over a formal memorandum of grievances, the protesters demanded the immediate sacking of the club’s co-coaches.
WHAT STUART BAXTER SAID ABOUT KAIZER CHIEFS
In a revealing interview with FARPost, veteran tactician Baxter has identified management interference as the primary hurdle preventing Chiefs from reclaiming their former glory. The 72-year-old emphasised that the club must first cultivate a conducive technical environment before they can expect consistent results on the pitch.
Baxter pointed to his highly successful first stint between 2012 and 2015 as the blueprint the club has failed to maintain. During that “golden era,” his leadership saw the Glamour Boys secure two league titles [2012/13 and 2014/15] and both the Nedbank Cup and MTN8 trophies. However, he noted a stark contrast during his second spell [June 2021 – April 2022], which ended without silverware amid internal friction.
“If Kaizer Chiefs want to learn anything from the whole Baxter saga, the first time the roles were clear. The coach was allowed to do his job. We had a clear identity, and it was a successful period. The second time, roles were blurred, egos were involved, and it’s likely been the same story since,” Baxter told FARPost.
Baxter further detailed the “constant noise” that disrupted his second tenure, citing a lack of support and a culture of unsolicited technical advice.
“I came in the second time and it was very unclear. I was getting told which players to buy, who to select, and even how to set up tactically. It was as if I was expected to follow a script written by others. That atmosphere was entirely different from the first time, and it made it impossible to build a winning culture,” he added.
While Kaze and Ben Youssef have been under fire, some fans believe they shouldn’t be solely blamed, echoing Baxter’s sentiments about interference.
CHIEFS MUST LEARN FROM THEIR PAST, SAYS BAXTER
According to Baxter, Chiefs could have achieved more if they had allowed Gavin Hunt, Ernst Middendorp, or Arthur Zwane to work without interference.
“Chiefs need to return to that clarity,” Baxter insisted. “If you hire a coach, you must allow him to do his job. You cannot keep imposing players, making recommendations, or questioning his tactical approach. I am certain that if coaches like Gavin Hunt, Ernst Middendorp, or even myself during my second spell, had been granted the same time and autonomy we see now, we would have delivered success,” he claimed.
Baxter also expressed concern for club founder Kaizer Motaung, suggesting that the chairman is being shielded from the reality of the club’s internal struggles.
“I would never say a bad word against Kaizer Senior; he was fantastic to me, and I remain proud of my time at the club,” Baxter added. “However, I feel that Kaizer is not being shown a clear path toward making Chiefs successful again. It has become a case of ‘smoke and mirrors.’ Until the leadership is transparent and the roles are properly structured, they will continue to struggle.
“It isn’t just about which player to buy or which youngster to promote—it’s about getting the foundation and the professional structure right.”
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