Mosimane: Would Kaizer Chiefs move have been a step backwards?

In his first full season as Amakhosi head coach, Arthur Zwane has struggled to find winning form and prior to last weekend’s win over SuperSport, the Soweto side were in danger of slipping into the relegation zone.

Some, including veteran PSL coach Mlungisi Ngubane have questioned Zwane’s credentials as he had no previous experience as a head coach in the PSL.

“The person you have entrusted with your plan, is he the right one? You can’t give a short-term plan to somebody who is not tried and tested. The likes of Arthur Zwane are still new, Chiefs is a big club. I thought they were going to rope in Pitso to be part of their project,” he told KickOff.

“DDC (Reserve League) and the PSL are not the same. Because even today I don’t think Chiefs can tell you how they found themselves in the final of the Caf Champions League. But in the final, their luck ran out. This time of the season, experienced players are starting to realise if coaches are the real deal or what.”

The question arises though as to whether Mosimane wants to return to the PSL to coach Chiefs or any club at this stage of his career.

Highly ambitious and highly successful, the answer is probably no. Mosimane is likely holding on for a move abroad, be that in Europe, South America, the Middle East or another of the big African leagues.

He deserves such an opportunity, and South African soccer needs more coaches like Mosimane and Benni McCarthy to open pathways and fly this country's flag high.

At this juncture of his career and with a CV very few in world football can match, Mosimane would have cost a fortune to hire. It’s arguable whether it would even have been worth it for Chiefs to pay that kind of money or whether they would have been willing to.

The thing is, Mosimane is not a miracle worker. Amakhosi have issues which go deeper than the head coach, and so paying big bucks to bring in someone like Pitso may not have even made the desired impact. Chiefs need to get to the root of their shortcomings and so pumping money in at the top is not the way to fix it.

It’s a bit unfair to judge Zwane at such an early point of the season. Yes Chiefs have been poor at times but they are now occupying ninth position and are just three points behind second-placed Orlando Pirates. The Glamour Boys could also taste trophy success after reaching the MTN8 semi-finals.

Zwane has a very tough job in moulding a new-look side together and has at times been let down by his players this season.

Mosimane will surely coach in the PSL again one day and may well fancy a new challenge and would probably relish the chance to coach South Africa’s biggest club, Chiefs.

He may also be up for another go at the Bafana Bafana job.

But for now the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach is most likely eyeing opportunities abroad and could perhaps be back in SA in the next five to 10 years if he gets the chances he deserves overseas.