Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Lebohang Mokoena has endorsed Arthur Zwane to bounce back as Kaizer Chiefs coach in what would be a stunning move.
Amakhosi are likely to make changes to their technical team after the end of this season. They currently have a co-coaching setup of Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef at the helm after succeeding Nasreddine Nabi two months into this term.
But the duo’s mandate is just to lead Chiefs until the conclusion of this campaign. They might, however, make the Glamour Boys rethink the arrangement and offer them fresh contracts, should Amakhosi end the season on a high. However, if the authorities at Naturena continue their search for a new head coach, Kaze and Ben Youssef might leave or be incorporated into the new technical team.
Various names have already been thrown around as possible candidates to take charge of Chiefs, who are currently third on the Betway Premiership standings and on course to secure a ticket for CAF inter-club football next season.
Veteran tactician Pitso Mosimane and Kenya coach Benni McCarthy’s names have been mentioned prominently for the demanding Chiefs job. Mokoena has now included Zwane, AmaZulu FC’s coach.
THE DNA OF A GIANT: ARTHUR ZWANE’S DEEP ROOTS AT NATURENA
With 22 years of service under his belt, Zwane is as steeped in the traditions and culture of Kaizer Chiefs as one can be. He enjoyed an illustrious career as a skilful winger, amassing 32 goals in 252 appearances in all competitions for Amakhosi. Between his arrival in 2000 and his retirement a decade later he helped the Club to win 12 major trophies, including the CAF Cup Winners Cup, 2 league titles, the MTN8, Coca Cola Cup, Absa Cup, BP Top8 and the Telkom Knockout.
He retired in 2010 to become assistant coach at Chiefs. Shifting focus, he began working with the Chiefs Youth Academy Development programme in 2012, holding posts with the U-13, U-17 and U-19 teams for a period of four seasons before moving up to coach the club’s reserve team.
HAS ARTHUR ZWANE BANISHED THE GHOST OF HIS PREVIOUS CHIEFS STINT?
During his time in the Youth Development structures, he helped discover and produce players such as Siyabonga Ngezana, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya, Sabelo Radebe, Njabulo Blom, Bruce Bvuma, Mduduzi Shabalala, Bontle Molefe, Keletso Sifama, Lebohang Lesako, Darryl Macheke, Thabo Mokwena and Happy Mashiane, as well as the likes of Lorenzo Gordinho, Zitha Kwinika, Given Thibedi, Sanele Tshabalala and Wiseman Meyiwa.
He went on to win the inaugural Multichoice Diski Shield in 2018 with most of these players.
However, Zwane’s previous stint as Chiefs head coach was disastrous, almost tarnishing his image as a competitive tactician. But he has silenced his doubters at Usuthu, who are fourth on the league table with four games to go, challenging Chiefs for a top-three finish. Zwane’s troops are five points behind Chiefs. They currently have 42 points from 12 wins, six draws, and eight defeats. This season, Zwane also led Usuthu to the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals.
A Chiefs son since his playing days, through to being a development coach before leaping into the first team to assist Stuart Baxter and Molefi Ntseki, before ultimately landing the Amakhosi top job, Zwane deeply knows the culture at Naturena. He also had a spell as an understudy to former Bafana Bafana coach Ntseki.
Mokoena has come out boldly to back the 52-year-old for what would be a sensational return to Chiefs after being with Usuthu since October 2024.
MOKOENA: WHY ZWANE IS NOW RIPE FOR CHIEFS JOB
“I think coach Arthur has proved himself at AmaZulu with limited resources. You know what [he would say], ‘My first stint [at Chiefs] was not pleasing to you guys,’” Mokoena said on Soccerbeat.
“He needed more time, and the team was very impatient when it came to local coaches. So I think if they can get coach Arthur to come back.
“He has worked with most of those youngsters; he knows the culture of the team. I think the results speak for themselves that he is right behind Kaizer Chiefs with a team [AmaZulu] that nobody expected to be in the top four.
“He has spent the second year and started [this season] with the team, and look where they are. So, if maybe he is given those two or three years and opportunity again at Kaizer Chiefs, I’m sure he can bring back the glory days,” added Mokoena.
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