Coaching Kaizer Chiefs is ‘very easy’, says Cavin Johnson

12 November 2023 - 13:12
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Keagan Dolly and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe of Kaizer Chiefs challenge Patrick Maswanganyi of Orlando Pirates in the DStv Premiership Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Keagan Dolly and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe of Kaizer Chiefs challenge Patrick Maswanganyi of Orlando Pirates in the DStv Premiership Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Image: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images

Kaizer Chiefs interim coach Cavin Johnson has dismissed the notion that not anyone can coach Amakhosi or that it is difficult.

Johnson believes it’s about the personnel at Chiefs having a deep understanding of the Soweto giants and everything they stand for.

The experienced coach was speaking after his side’s 1-0 defeat to bitter rivals Orlando Pirates in their DStv Premiership Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

The former SuperSport United and Platinum Stars boss has overseen three games at Chiefs, losing two and winning the other.

Asked how he is finding the pressure of leading the club that has millions of demanding supporters, Johnson admitted Amakhosi are a huge brand and the high expectations from a fan base impatient after eight seasons without silverware does bring challenges.   

“That's [coaching Chiefs] something that I've found very easy,” Johnson said.

“Yes, the fans [too]. I think it's about the pressure that comes from this team [being] so big, and they have so many fans, and there’s so many of them we need to please. And people think it’s difficult to coach this team — no, it’s not.

“It’s about the cloth that runs through this team that we need to respect. And sometimes we don’t respect that.

“I think the pressure that comes is because this team is so big, and they have so many fans and there's so many of them to please, people think it’s difficult to coach this team. No, it’s not,” Johnson said.

“It’s about the cloth that runs through this team that we need to respect. And sometimes we don’t respect that.

“I think it’s about going into Kaizer Chiefs, understanding who Kaizer [Motaung senior, Chiefs' owner and chair] is, who Kaizer Chiefs are and making sure that the personnel that’s within the team know what this brand is all about.

“It's a hard task to ask nowadays because when I’m finished now, you see all these phones in front of me, they will be on my desk, and I will be looking at mine. How many Instagram users have left me, and how many people sent me DMs?

“So, really, we are working with a different type of a player that you have to teach a different way. Maybe I can get that right, but I’m sure this team will play better football.”

Chiefs seemed to lack fighting spirit early in Saturday's derby until, in the latter stages, the introduction of players such as Christian Saile and Samkelo Zwane added some impetus.

“I thought it was a game of three quarters and one quarter. I think Pirates came out stronger than us in the first half and they got the goal in about 20 minutes,” Johnson said.

“And again, a little bit of a mistake from my team but in saying that, I think we were able to contain the game and we came out better in the second half.

“I thought we had a penalty disallowed and we hit the post with [Edson] Castillo, but at the same time the team played a lot better than I expected them to play today.

“There were moments I thought that if Chiefs had the calmness that I think comes with the brand of Kaizer Chiefs in the last stage, maybe we could have ended up going home with a draw or even a win.”


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