Former Kaizer Chiefs player Tefu Mashamaite believes that Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef were set up to struggle from the moment they took charge at the club. The pair stepped in as co-coaches at Amakhosi until the end of the season, after replacing Nasreddine Nabi in September.
Despite guiding Chiefs to a third-place finish in the Betway Premiership, reports suggest that the duo will not be offered new contracts for next season. This decision has sparked debate, with some questioning whether the club is making a mistake by letting them go.
Chiefs’ Coaching Conundrum
Mashamaite, however, believes that the two coaches deserve more time at the club. He thinks that Kaze’s role as Nabi’s translator has created a perception that may be hard to shake off. “I feel the two coaches have done really well, but their biggest disadvantage is that Kaze came in as Nabi’s translator; that’s the label attached to him,” said Mashamaite. “Ben Youssef was Nabi’s assistant, so the club and fans will always look at that.”
The former Kaizer Chiefs captain believes that the duo proved their capabilities during their short stint in charge. “If you take away all these titles, they actually proved themselves and transformed the team. If you look at the spell they had over the past two months, and the kind of games they played against Pirates and Sundowns, I think Chiefs were getting somewhere,” he told Soccerbeat.
South African Football’s Big-Name Obsession
Mashamaite also feels that South African football still places too much emphasis on big-name coaches instead of long-term structures and identity. “We are still living in a culture where we are always looking for a big man, a big name, to come and solve our problems,” he added. He points to former Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro as an example of a relatively unknown coach who succeeded through building a strong foundation. “Look at Jose Riveiro. He came to Pirates as a no-name, but what he built there was formidable. I think right now they are on the verge of winning the title because of the foundation he laid.”
Kaizer Chiefs host Chippa United this weekend, looking to end the season on a high. The question on everyone’s mind is: should Chiefs keep the coaches? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the club needs to make a decision that will benefit them in the long run.
The Future of Kaizer Chiefs
The club’s decision to potentially let Kaze and Ben Youssef go has sparked a lot of debate. While some think it’s the right decision, others believe that the duo deserves more time to prove themselves. As the season comes to a close, one thing is certain – Kaizer Chiefs need to make a decision that will benefit the club in the long run.
