VLADIMIR Vermezovic and Stuart Baxter, two coaches whose return to South African football had a lukewarm reception, come face-to-face tomorrow night in a Soweto derby MTN8 final having somewhat silenced their detractors.
It isn’t hard to argue that Orlando Pirates coach Vermezovic and Baxter of Kaizer Chiefs almost immediately stopped their fault-finders dead in their tracks with how they adapted to their new surroundings.
Vermezovic, who was sacked by Chiefs in April 2012 after he had lost the backing of the club, was a surprise choice to replace Roger de Sa midway through last season.
The Serbian had been in the doldrums in his hometown of Belgrade and didn’t quite take like fish to water in his first 10 games in charge of the Buccaneers.
It is how he finished, winning the Nedbank Cup trophy and securing a Top 8 place that restored confidence in his ability – a glimpse of the good times at Chiefs.
His opposite number Baxter had more of a tainted past. The Englishman left these shores with his tail between his legs after being a flop with Bafana and failing to guide them to the 2006 World Cup in Germany. It was also reported that Baxter had embellished his CV to land the Amakhosi job as Vermezovic’s successor.
Rather than responding publicly, the coach let his work, not his mouth, do the talking and ended his debut season as a Premier League and Nedbank Cup champion. The league title was the first for Chiefs in eight years. This week, Baxter praised Vermezovic for using his previous knowledge of the domestic league to settle in a new environment, while the Pirates coach refused to talk about his rival.
“I’ve spoken to VV a few times and If you think about when he was here the first time, it’s very similar to when I was the national coach the first time. I am sure VV felt he had higher ambitions to fulfil.
“VV, like myself, has used his first experience and he has come back and has probably changed a few things – like how he reacts on the field, and maybe some tactical things. I’ve done the same thing and we’ve both come back and we are enjoying the work.”
He suggested Vermezovic might have the upperhand tomorrow because of his history with Amakhosi.
“I am sure he has the advantage of being on the other side. I don’t know, maybe he understands how Chiefs work. And by that I mean the club. His allegiance is with Pirates at the moment, so he will be desperate to do well. But mostly I think both of us have put things into practice that we thought we would do if we ever came back,” said Baxter.
Fire in belly in derby dugouts
It isn’t hard to argue that Orlando Pirates coach Vermezovic and Baxter of Kaizer Chiefs almost immediately stopped their fault-finders dead in their tracks with how they adapted to their new surroundings.
Vermezovic, who was sacked by Chiefs in April 2012 after he had lost the backing of the club, was a surprise choice to replace Roger de Sa midway through last season.
The Serbian had been in the doldrums in his hometown of Belgrade and didn’t quite take like fish to water in his first 10 games in charge of the Buccaneers.
It is how he finished, winning the Nedbank Cup trophy and securing a Top 8 place that restored confidence in his ability – a glimpse of the good times at Chiefs.
His opposite number Baxter had more of a tainted past. The Englishman left these shores with his tail between his legs after being a flop with Bafana and failing to guide them to the 2006 World Cup in Germany. It was also reported that Baxter had embellished his CV to land the Amakhosi job as Vermezovic’s successor.
Rather than responding publicly, the coach let his work, not his mouth, do the talking and ended his debut season as a Premier League and Nedbank Cup champion. The league title was the first for Chiefs in eight years. This week, Baxter praised Vermezovic for using his previous knowledge of the domestic league to settle in a new environment, while the Pirates coach refused to talk about his rival.
“I’ve spoken to VV a few times and If you think about when he was here the first time, it’s very similar to when I was the national coach the first time. I am sure VV felt he had higher ambitions to fulfil.
“VV, like myself, has used his first experience and he has come back and has probably changed a few things – like how he reacts on the field, and maybe some tactical things. I’ve done the same thing and we’ve both come back and we are enjoying the work.”
He suggested Vermezovic might have the upperhand tomorrow because of his history with Amakhosi.
“I am sure he has the advantage of being on the other side. I don’t know, maybe he understands how Chiefs work. And by that I mean the club. His allegiance is with Pirates at the moment, so he will be desperate to do well. But mostly I think both of us have put things into practice that we thought we would do if we ever came back,” said Baxter.
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