Renowned coach Farouk Khan has shared his thoughts on where he believes it went wrong for former head coach Molefi Ntseki at Kaizer Chiefs.
Following an underwhelming start to the season that saw Amakhosi win just three of 13 matches across all competitions under head coach Molefi Ntseki, the club's hierarchy announced a string of changes in the technical team on Monday.
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These changes include the exit of Ntseki as head of development Cavin Johnson taking up the first team caretaker position where is assisted by Dillon Sheppard, while Arthur Zwane returns to the club's youth structures.
"I don't think it specifically a one-person problem. It wasn't specifically Ntseki or someone else, I think it was a group of factors that ultimately have led the cub to a run of some poor results," Khan told KickOff.
"Firstly, I don't think Chiefs have rediscovered their playing style. They used to have one years ago but they've lost it.
"Not just now, but in the last few years if asked you what's Chiefs playing style you struggle to explain it. You look at Sundowns, you look at Pirates and even when they don't win a match, there is a style of play. You can see the intention.
"it's a deeper problem that can't be fixed in a few months. I think Cavin will do well because he has really great man management skills, but in the long run Chiefs have to try and discover their identity."
? MTN8?Carling KnockoutIt ends in defeat for Kaizer Chiefs as Taariq Fielies scores in the 88th minute to send AmaZulu into the #CarlingKnockout quarterfinals ? pic.twitter.com/OvAYxwEef0
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) October 21, 2023
Ntseki, by his own admission, recognised that the results were not forthcoming and pleaded for patience from Amakhosi supporters following another underwhelming defeat, this time at the hands of AmaZulu who knocked the Soweto Giants out of the Carling Knockout.
The former Bafana Bafana coach was consequently hurried down the tunnel by law enforcement as furious Chiefs fans hurled objects at his direction.
"I think it's difficult if one has to explain the space I find myself in. I always say when you prepare, you prepare to win. But when you lose games like this, you're always worried about what will happen at the end of the game," Ntseki said in his last post-match press conference as Chiefs' head coach.
"I don't think it's a good thing for football. It has turned out to be more like every training session you have is the last training session. Every game you play is your last game.
"You're more worried about the results. I've been saying it's preparation, preparation, preparation. Yes, you're not getting the results, and you own up as a coach.
"When things like this happen for a third time, it's not only affecting you as a coach, it also affects your players,"
"When they get to hear and they get to see what happens to their coach when they lose matches, it also becomes a reflection on them, to say, 'What if tomorrow I'm the next one when I didn't have a good game?'
"In terms of South African football supporters, I think the biggest challenge is that we're not very supportive. We're not patient when results are not coming.
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"It is very unfortunate for incidents like this. But who am I to bring a stop to incidents like this? But, at the end of the day, it worries you more because you're a family person. You're a South African. You see your people not having patience in the hard work that you put in.
"But at the end of the day, it's football. You win some, you lose some. The day you get hired, the door [remains] open for you to exit. And that's football for us. If you don't get results, you should be ready to get fired.
Johnson will have a chance to make a good impression on the Amakhosi faithful when Chiefs take on Lamontville Golden Arrows at Mpumalanga Stadium on Saturday. Kick-off is at 15:30.
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