Kaizer Chiefs should be open to coaches who want to bring own staff, says Shane McGregor

Kaizer Chiefs legend Shane McGregor says his former club should embrace how professional coaches work in modern football and not close the door on those who want to bring their own staff. 

Chiefs parted ways with Molefi Ntseki on Monday after the club struggled with results since he was moved from head of technical and youth development to Amakhosi’s hot seat just before the start of the 2023-24 campaign.

Before Ntseki’s appointment Chiefs had talks with the experienced Nasreddine Nabi. Indications were his demands, which included bringing his own staff, were part of the reason Chiefs backed off on a deal with the Tunisian coach who had success with Young Africans in Tanzania last season.

Head of youth development Cavin Johnson has been appointed caretaker coach.

“Why do you think the club has not done well in the last eight or nine years? I think they have done nothing right because they are not doing that [appointing a coach who comes with his own team],” McGregor said.

“Any decent coach is going to come with his own people... You look anywhere in the world, that’s what happens.

“But the club must also look past coaches. They must look at where the problem is... where it is going wrong, a total outlook at the whole club. They must ask themselves why and what are they doing wrong and how can they change this.” 

Other than being knocked out in two cup competitions in 2023-24, Chiefs have also struggled in the Premiership in which they have lost four and won three of nine matches to be in eighth place. 

McGregor, who represented the club with aplomb as a striker in the late 1990s, said the sooner Chiefs appoint a permanent, experienced coach the better.

“I said at the beginning Ntseki was not experienced enough for that position,” McGregor said of the coach who had not coached in top flight football.

“He had not coached any professional team.

“I think it’s the right decision. They’ve got to find a coach who’s going to be there for the long term because this changing of coaches [eight since 2015, when Chiefs last won silverware] is not going to help.”

McGregor said Johnson should not take charge in a caretaker role for long.

“The sooner [a permanent replacement is found] the better because then you are at least giving that coach [the rest of] this season to [establish] exactly where he is and what is going on so come next year you’re not starting all over again.”