Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Dillon Sheppard has opened up on securing new coaching credentials, with the club’s sporting director, Kaizer Motaung Jr, explaining how the Glamour Boys will benefit from his advanced badges.
The former Bafana Bafana midfielder was recently appointed as second assistant to new coach Fernando da Cruz. A new era has been ushered in at Naturena with Frenchman Da Cruz pressed to end Amakhosi’s Premiership title drought.
After co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze helped Chiefs to finish third on the Betway Premiership table last season, Da Cruz is expected to build on that by inspiring the Soweto giants to clinch their first league title since 2015.
Sheppard is not new to the assistant coach role at Chiefs, having previously understudied Gavin Hunt, Molefi Ntseki, Arthur Zwane and Cavin Johnson. He was also called to assist Ben Youssef and Kaze last season as Chiefs endured a bad patch, which threatened their top-eight chances last campaign.
DILLON SHEPPARD OPENS UP ON UPGRADING HIS COACHING CREDENTIALS
Sheppard joins Da Cruz’s technical set-up, which also has Egyptian Mahmoud Abbas as the first assistant coach. The ex-Mamelodi Sundowns star recently completed his CAF A Licence in Tanzania, adding to the UEFA A badge he already holds.
“I’m proud to have achieved this. The journey started some time ago and came with challenges along the way, but I’m glad I’ve reached the goal,” said Sheppard.
“I’m grateful to the club for standing by me throughout the process, and I’ll work hard to share the knowledge I have acquired with our players and other coaches within the club.”
Amakhosi sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr. believes Chiefs “will benefit greatly” from Sheppard’s latest coaching qualification. The club is looking to return to the glory days that earned them the ‘Cup Kings of SA football’ moniker, while also preparing for a continental onslaught in the CAF Confederation Cup.
“We fully support the education and development of our coaches,” Motaung Jr said.
“Having coach Sheppy qualified to work at the highest level in Africa with his CAF A Licence, as well as in Europe with his UEFA A Licence, means our players – both in the Kaizer Chiefs youth development academy and the senior team – will benefit greatly. We are proud and happy for him.”
RELATED STORY: Dillon Sheppard appointed Kaizer Chiefs second assistant coach under Da Cruz