Kaizer Chiefs soccer fans received a shock to the system when it was announced at a press conference on 2 June that their coach Stuart Baxter is leaving the club to take a break from the sport.
Baxter started his Chiefs journey on 7 May 2012 and he soon gained popularity among fans when the Chiefs won the Nedbank Cup defeating Supersport United in the Premier Soccer League final in 2013. It was a title they (Kaizer Chiefs) lost to the Mamelodi Sundowns in 2014 and regained the following year.
At the conference that took place in Johannesburg, Baxter announced that he will take a break from coaching for a while and relax a bit in Sweden.
Kaizer Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung confirmed that Baxter’s contract has been terminated at the club with immediate effect, but he was unable to comment on why the coach is leaving the club.
Team manager Bobby Motaung concluded with, “I have worked with the coach for the past 3 years, it has been wonderful, no problems, just different views.”
"It is confirmed today that the Coach and Chiefs have terminated the contract" – Kaizer Motaung #KCPressCon #ThankYouBaxter
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) June 2, 2015
The Club & Stuart Baxter have agreed to part ways. We would like to thank him and wish him all the best #KCPressCon #ThankYouBaxter
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) June 2, 2015
"I would like to thank the Chairman for his good words" – Stuart Baxter #KCPressCon #ThankYouBaxter
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) June 2, 2015
"Will look for jobs, am I going to Turkey? I will go back to Sweden and take a rest" – Stuart Baxter #KCPressCon #ThankYouBaxter
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) June 2, 2015
"The players have been excellent, no point where I have been disappointed in them" – Stuart Baxter #KCPressCon #ThankYouBaxter
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) June 2, 2015
The Club & Itumeleng Khune have agreed to part ways. We would like to thank him and wish him all the best #KCPressCon #ThankYouItu
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) June 2, 2015
Another shocker from the same conference was that Ruimsig resident, Itumeleng Khune, the team’s trusty goalkeeper, has also decided to part ways with the club.