Stuart Baxter withdrew from the limelight on Wednesday, giving credit to his players for wrapping up their second league and cup double in three seasons.
Chiefs sealed the 2014-15 Absa Premiership title in style with three games remaining, with a 4-1 victory over Polokwane City at FNB Stadium.
They went to an unassailable 15-point lead over second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, and, on 63 points, are on course to break Downs’ 65-point record set only last season.
Baxter returned to South Africa – a country he left in 2005 on a sour note after a trying period as Bafana Bafana coach – three years ago and won a league and cup double with Chiefs in 2012-13.
The Scot-Englishman has joined an elite club of coaches – Gavin Hunt, Gordon Igesund and Ted Dumitru – who have won the PSL more than once with this season’s double (Chiefs are also MTN8 champions).
But the coach preferred not to take limelight from his players savouring the satisfaction of that.
“My time here before probably enabled me to test some ideas on how deal with African players versus European players,” said Baxter.
“I understand the voices raised against foreign coaches who don’t understand the African way. I understand people are scared players will be suffocated. But I also would like to think we can all get better – not ‘we, Kaizer Chiefs’, but I think all South African football can get better.
“And I think that balance of taking something from Brazil, Holland, or Spain, and blending that with what is inherently South African, is what I’ve tried to do.
“It’s pleasing we’ve been successful. But, again, coaches pat themselves on the back and I could talk all night but basically the players have done the job.
And if they didn’t do the job for me, I’m sure the knives would be out here.
“I would rather retreat into the wings and let them have the credit they deserve for having three fantastic seasons.”
The coach can savour the most successful period in his career – in Sweden Baxter won a league title with AIK, and the Swedish cup with AIK and Helsingborgs.
Chiefs do not have the best squad in the PSL. But they have been easily the consistently best all-round team in 2014-15.
A defence where Mulomowandau Mathoho, Tefu Mashamaite and Tsepo Masilela have been outstanding, has conceded 12 goals. George Lebese and Mandla Masango have matured into goal-scoring and providing wingers.
Central midfielders Willard Katsande and Reneilwe Letsholonyane looked key from day one, when Chiefs dispatched of Free State Stars 1-0 on an appalling Charles Mopeli Stadium pitch.
Amakhosi went 19 matches unbeaten from the start, and have negotiated the mini-slumps that followed.
Baxter said spurning an 11-point lead to finish runners-up to Sundowns last season was the blemish on his three years at Chiefs.
“We did everything in our power to win it last year. We learnt a few lessons from last year.”
Chiefs complete their season against Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday, Bidvest Wits at FNB Stadium on May 6, and Chippa United in Port Elizabeth on May 9.
It’s job well done, Boys
Chiefs sealed the 2014-15 Absa Premiership title in style with three games remaining, with a 4-1 victory over Polokwane City at FNB Stadium.
They went to an unassailable 15-point lead over second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, and, on 63 points, are on course to break Downs’ 65-point record set only last season.
Baxter returned to South Africa – a country he left in 2005 on a sour note after a trying period as Bafana Bafana coach – three years ago and won a league and cup double with Chiefs in 2012-13.
The Scot-Englishman has joined an elite club of coaches – Gavin Hunt, Gordon Igesund and Ted Dumitru – who have won the PSL more than once with this season’s double (Chiefs are also MTN8 champions).
But the coach preferred not to take limelight from his players savouring the satisfaction of that.
“My time here before probably enabled me to test some ideas on how deal with African players versus European players,” said Baxter.
“I understand the voices raised against foreign coaches who don’t understand the African way. I understand people are scared players will be suffocated. But I also would like to think we can all get better – not ‘we, Kaizer Chiefs’, but I think all South African football can get better.
“And I think that balance of taking something from Brazil, Holland, or Spain, and blending that with what is inherently South African, is what I’ve tried to do.
“It’s pleasing we’ve been successful. But, again, coaches pat themselves on the back and I could talk all night but basically the players have done the job.
And if they didn’t do the job for me, I’m sure the knives would be out here.
“I would rather retreat into the wings and let them have the credit they deserve for having three fantastic seasons.”
The coach can savour the most successful period in his career – in Sweden Baxter won a league title with AIK, and the Swedish cup with AIK and Helsingborgs.
Chiefs do not have the best squad in the PSL. But they have been easily the consistently best all-round team in 2014-15.
A defence where Mulomowandau Mathoho, Tefu Mashamaite and Tsepo Masilela have been outstanding, has conceded 12 goals. George Lebese and Mandla Masango have matured into goal-scoring and providing wingers.
Central midfielders Willard Katsande and Reneilwe Letsholonyane looked key from day one, when Chiefs dispatched of Free State Stars 1-0 on an appalling Charles Mopeli Stadium pitch.
Amakhosi went 19 matches unbeaten from the start, and have negotiated the mini-slumps that followed.
Baxter said spurning an 11-point lead to finish runners-up to Sundowns last season was the blemish on his three years at Chiefs.
“We did everything in our power to win it last year. We learnt a few lessons from last year.”
Chiefs complete their season against Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday, Bidvest Wits at FNB Stadium on May 6, and Chippa United in Port Elizabeth on May 9.
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