Chiefs boss Motaung quells rumors Hutting is eyeing Komphela's job

10 January 2018 - 16:01 By Marc Strydom
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Kaizer Chiefs' head coach Steve Komphela (L) and Football manager Bobby Motaung (R) introduce the new technical advisor Rob Hutting (M) to the media during the club's media briefing at Chiefs Village on January 10, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Kaizer Chiefs' head coach Steve Komphela (L) and Football manager Bobby Motaung (R) introduce the new technical advisor Rob Hutting (M) to the media during the club's media briefing at Chiefs Village on January 10, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Image: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

Kaizer Chiefs’ football manager Bobby Motaung has moved swiftly to quell speculation that the club’s new technical advisor‚ Rob Hutting‚ has been appointed with a view to eventually replace coach Steve Komphela.

Motaung said while appointments of technical directors and advisors are often viewed in that manner in South Africa‚ and this has been the practical application at some clubs‚ that was not the situation with the hiring of little-known Dutchman Hutting.

“Just to inform the media and the supporters that the relationship with Rob started last year in June‚” Motaung said at a press conference at Chiefs’ Naturena headquarters on Wednesday.

“It’s been six months where it was a work in progress‚ trying to communicate with him and look at options together with the head coach and the chairman (Kaizer Motaung).

“We are aware that Conti Kubheka left the club (as head of development) last year. Doctor Khumalo also resigned and left the club (to become Baroka technical director).

Kaizer Chiefs’ manager, Bobby Motaung, assured fans at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday that the team’s new technical advisor, Rob Hutting, was not here to take over head coach Steve ...

“We had to find a suitable replacement for those positions. A person who has got knowledge.

“We have been doing our research and taking interviews. And I think we’ve found a suitable candidate in terms of the role that he has to play as a technical advisor.

“And I think‚ just to deal with the myth or perception that is out there already that Mr Hutting is here as a replacement for the coach‚ just to clarify up-front: his mission is to deal with the technical aspects‚ and advise the technical staff‚ both the head coach and youth academy.

“Together with the head coach and the chairman we found our candidate for the next six months.

“It’s six months‚ with an option to extend‚ because he is new in the country and has to find his feet and we have to find solutions also in terms of the technical aspects of his role that he’s going to play with the team.

“But for now‚ he’ll be technical advisor. Not on the coaching aspect. He’s not going to be taking over from Mr Komphela‚ as people and the prophets of doom have said.

“And I know in South Africa that a technical director or advisor is perceived as a plan to remove somebody.

“This was a plan‚ together with the head coach‚ to look at certain aspects within our technical staff.”

Hutting (62) arrives with a sketchy CV of never having coached at a professional club in a career spanning various unheralded lower-tier teams in Holland and Germany.


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