Khune: ‘Chiefs Need A Recognised Head Coach’

Itumeleng Khune. Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images

Former Kaizer Chiefs captain Itumeleng Khune believes the club’s current struggles underline the importance of having a recognised head coach in charge of the team.

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Amakhosi have endured a difficult period in recent weeks, suffering four consecutive defeats and effectively seeing their hopes of silverware fade as the season progresses. The situation has unfolded during a period of uncertainty on the bench following the departure of former head coach Nasreddine Nabi.

Since Nabi’s exit, assistants Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze have been tasked with holding the fort, but results have not gone according to plan.

Khune, who spent the majority of his career at Naturena, explained that dressing rooms often respond differently when assistants step into the main role, something he experienced first-hand during his playing days.

“Chiefs need a recognised head coach. I remember during my playing days there were times where the coach would be sacked, and the assistants would take over, and some players had no respect for the assistant because an assistant is not like a head coach,” Khune said.

“A head coach, you’ll find him too serious, and players will be scared of him. Assistants will be more lenient and joking with players, and then as soon as they take over as head coaches or co-coaches, players tend not to take them seriously.”

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The former Bafana Bafana international believes the absence of a single authoritative voice can also create confusion within the squad.

“A team like Kaizer Chiefs should be having a head coach at all times, not interim or co-coaches, because you don’t know who to take instructions from. When the head coach is there, you take instructions from one individual, but when you have two, you don’t know who to listen to, and you get confused as a player,” he explained.

Khune added that he sympathises with the players navigating the current situation, suggesting that clarity from the technical bench is often crucial during difficult periods.

“So I sometimes feel for the players,” the veteran goalkeeper concluded.

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