Khune yearns for the return of African flair

Kaizer Chiefs players want a home-grown coach, and the message to the club's management was delivered yesterday by Amakhosi captain Itumeleng Khune.

Khune linked Chiefs' declining success to European coaches who have been brought in over the past seven years.

The last of the European coaches was Vladimir Vermezovic, who was sacked three weeks ago following a string of inconsistent results and failing to win the Absa Premiership in his three seasons with the club. Chiefs have always had foreign coaches in the Premier Soccer League era, among them Muhsin Ertugral, Paul Dolezar, Ernst Middendorp and Kosta Papic.

The last time Chiefs won the league, they had a foreign coach in Romanian Ted Dumitru in 2005.

Now the club is searching for a new coach for next season, with Khune pleading for a South African.

Khune said yesterday that the club needed a coach with "African flair", something which Chiefs had been lacking before local coaches Donald Khuse and Doctor Khumalo took over from Vermezovic.

Although Amakhosi have yet to win a game under the two former Chiefs players - they have been beaten in all three games since the pair have been in charge - Khune said Khuse and Khumalo have given the team "freedom of expression".

"The African flair was always lacking. A lot of times the European coaches restricted us and wanted us to play this direct football.

"We were never able to give the fans what they want," said Khune.

The Bafana goalkeeper said that Khuse and Khumalo had asked the players to emulate the pair when they were in their prime.

The caretaker coaches were two of Chiefs' most popular midfielders before retiring.

"They were good and brought that back to the team," added Khune.

"They want us to also play for the crowd. We have not won yet, but the signs of improvement are there."

But Khumalo is not ready to put his name in the hat for the Amakhosi job.

Chiefs, sixth on the log, will take on third-placed Supersport United on Saturday night at Soccer City.

A defeat for Chiefs would end the Amakhosi's slim chance of winning the league this season, but would raise Supersport's hopes of winning their fourth title in five years.