Lucas Radebe on latest Kaizer Chiefs changes – ‘I am not sure anymore’

On Monday, the Glamour Boys sacked Molefi Ntseki after just 114 days in charge and confirmed the appointment of Cavin Johnson as his interim replacement, while Dillon Sheppard remains as his assistant. 

READ: Cavin Johnson opts to retain Dillon Sheppard as Kaizer Chiefs ring changes

Arthur Zwane, who spent last season as the Chiefs head coach before being relegated to Ntseki’s second in command, has been further demoted back to the youth ranks. 

Radebe says the musical chairs at one of the biggest clubs on the continent, who happen to be suffering from an eight year trophy drought, is puzzling. 

“To be honest, I am not sure anymore now. This is a big brand, Kaizer Chiefs, and there’s a lot of expectations for the club. I think everybody knows it’s a massive club that needs a big push, it needs character and it needs attitude to get to that level again,” the ex-Leeds United captain said on the sidelines of the Europa League trophy tour in Johannesburg.

Following the announcement in June ahead of the 2023/24 season that Ntseki would move from his role as head of technical at Chiefs to being the coach, Radebe was the first to be vocal about this being the wrong decision. 

READ: Kaizer Chiefs agree deal in principle for Luke Fleurs

He was asked what his views were now that Ntseki has been fired four months later. 

“You know, it’s a pity that, as a coach or manager, you are being judged on the results and they have not been coming. I think coaching a big club like Chiefs comes with a lot of expectations and it doesn’t matter whether you want to build or how much time you need to get them to the level that everybody can be happy with,” said Radebe. 

“It’s hard. Unfortunately that’s what happens in football – you learn. Surely, this is a big disappointment because you don’t want to see inconsistencies in the team, especially bringing managers in and out like that. It takes a while to steady the team.”