Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has revealed that he never spoke to Kaizer Chiefs over the possibility of re-joining the club, writes DEAN WORKMAN.
The Soweto giants were furiously searching for a new coach after Steve Komphela’s controversial resignation following a 2-0 loss to Free State Stars in the Nedbank Cup semi-final and the subsequent fan violence that followed.
Watch: Gabuza leaves pitch after celebrating Pirates’ goal
Baxter enjoyed a trophy-laden three-season spell at Amakhosi where he won two Absa Premierships, the Nedbank Cup and the MTN8.
Chiefs are yet to win silverware since Baxter’s departure and were thus reportedly interested in bringing the coach back to Naturena in an attempt to rediscover the glory days.
Baxter, however, is locked in a contract with the South Africa Football Association as the Bafana Bafana coach.
Baxter admitted at the latest Bafana squad announcement that due to his success at Chiefs he will always be in the conversation when the head coach position is vacant, but he never spoke to the club’s hierarchy about a potential reunion.
‘I’m not blowing my own trumpet when I say that I would imagine every time they need a coach my name will come up there somewhere, rightly or wrongly.
ALSO READ: Five talking points from Pirates victory over Leopards
‘I’m sure, because you get to know from different sources, that there was a scenario that some people who were hoping that it may happen,’ admitted Baxter.
‘Does that mean that I was sitting down in negotiations with Chiefs, no it doesn’t, and it doesn’t mean that they were disturbing me every day, pestering me.
‘But you guys [the media] like a good story, so there was a bit of life in that one.
‘I’m sure that Safa were unsure on how to deal with it, but I was in contact with them and I was doing my job.
‘Yes, I’m sure there was life in it but wasn’t an ongoing saga as it looked in the press? No, it wasn’t,’ concluded the Bafana coach.
