Former Bafana Coach Explains Chiefs’ League Title Struggles

Gordon Igesund, the former Bafana Bafana head coach, believes that the frequent hiring and firing of coaches is a key reason for Kaizer Chiefs' prolonged league title drought. 

Since their last victory in the 2014/15 season, the club has employed eight different head coaches and has even finished outside the top eight twice. 

The team's current coach, Nasreddine Nabi, is the only one to have won a trophy in this period, securing the Nedbank Cup last season.

Igesund told iDiski Times that he feels the team needs to offer a coach a solid mandate to win the league and give them their full backing, rather than continuously making changes. He said that this instability at the coaching position is detrimental to the team's ability to succeed.

‘YOU ARE JUST NOT GOING TO STOP SUNDOWNS’

“The problem is that teams like Chiefs are changing their team and coach almost every year,” Igesund told iDiski Times.

“That is not going to win them the championship. Chiefs need to employ someone they can confidently give a mandate to win the league. They must say, ‘That’s your mandate and we will give you all the support you want’. 

“But if you get a coach who still has to get used to the culture and get used to the players like they’ve done, then you’ve got a problem. You are just not going to stop Sundowns.”

Meanwhile, he also stated that clubs must go for coaches who know how to win championships.

 “There’s no substitute for experience in coaching,” added Igesund.

“Look at [Hugo] Broos, he is fit and can do the job. He’s got the brains, He’s been there and done that, and that’s why our national team is doing well. Our football needs that. Our clubs need to realise that they are not going to compete against Sundowns with young, inexperienced coaches. You need people who’ve been there before and have won championships.

“I went from Pirates to Santos and won the league. I also won the league with Sundowns and was essentially champion with [Moroka] Swallows at the final whistle of the season, only for Benni McCarthy to score for Pirates and they beat us to the title.”