Kaizer Motaung Jr Responds To Stuart Baxter’s Criticism

Kaizer Motaung Jr Responds To Stuart Baxter’s Criticism.

Kaizer Chiefs’ new sporting director, Kaizer Motaung Junior, has informed supporters that lowering the average age of the Kaizer Chiefs squad is a key element of his job.

However, he emphasized that head coach Stuart Baxter has final say on how those players are utilised.

Motaung Junior, who took over as head of technical and academy Molefi Ntseki, football manager Bobby Motaung, and the first team at the start of the season, replied to allegations that Baxter prefers players over 30, and overlooks promising academy prospects. He noted that the Chiefs’ current balance of youth and experience “is inadequate.”

The goal for Chiefs in 2021-22, according to the son of chairperson and founder Kaizer Motaung, is to avoid a seventh season without trophies, following their defeat to TS Galaxy in the Nedbank Cup, by finishing in the top two of the DStv Premiership and qualifying for the Caf Champions League.

“The first and most crucial thing I want to convey is that people are assigned roles and duties. The most essential thing is that Stuart Baxter, the head coach, is in charge of team selection and how he chooses to play,” stated Motaung Junior.

“Everyone else contributes, and that’s how football organizations work.”

“At this point in the season, the most important thing is to compete as hard as we can to ensure a Champions League berth.”

“In the league, anything might happen.” It has happened to us before that sundowns can lower [points]. But, of course, it’s to ensure that we can correct [the campaign], since being knocked out in the first round of the Nedbank Cup has been a tremendous thorn in our side.

“At the same time, we’ve already finalized our plans for next season.” The following season’s plans, as well as those for the next five years, are already in place.”

Friction between the previous two coaches at Chiefs, Ernst Middendorp and Gavin Hunt, and several players, according to rumors and reports, played a role in the team’s lack of success.

Motaung Junior was questioned if the sports director was concerned about public rumors that Baxter’s dismissal of young players was causing discontent among the group.

“I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t be able to speak about how anything was sabotaged previously.” “I believe it would be more professional for me to speak about where I am now and how I plan to proceed,” he said.

“I believe it is critical for everyone to understand, and something the club will continue to emphasize, that youth is an important component of our overall plan.” The average age of the team must be reduced.

“And it’s not just us – if you look at world football and how to bring about the appropriate transformation, most teams have a wonderful balance in youngsters, and you have to start somewhere.”

“Most of the icons who have worn our shirt and made us who we are today began as teens, whether it’s Doctor [Khumalo], our own chairperson who was 16, or Thabo Mooki.”

“Of course, you have to have a good mix of quality young and quality experience.” However, it is a critical component for us.

“We created a bit of personal history in the [2020-21] Caf Champions League [when Chiefs were finalists], and in the game that brought us into the knockout stages, we had five players from the academy on the field [in a 2-2 draw away against Horoya].”

“I believe there is a lack of balance in youth between the correct level of experience, the right quality, and the right quality.”

“Reducing the average age of the squad is a big point for me in terms of my responsibilities.”