Avatar photo

By Tshepo Ntsoelengoe

Football Journalist


Radebe ‘not sure’ if Johnson will succeed at Chiefs

“I don’t know. To be honest, I’m not sure anymore. This is a big brand, Kaizer Chiefs,@ says Radebe.


The appointment of Cavin Johnson as Kaizer Chiefs head coach has left club legend Lucas Radebe with more questions than answers regarding the future of the team.

LISTEN: Something is rotten in the state of Kaizer Chiefs

Johnson, who was originally appointed as head of youth development, was appointed as the Chiefs interim coach after the club sacked Molefi Ntseki on Monday following a string of poor results.

Radebe, who played for Chiefs between 1989 to 1994 before moving to England to play for Leeds United, says coaching a big team like Amakhosi comes with a lot of responsibility and the ability to get results.

Radebe was one of the people who weren’t happy with Ntseki’s appointment, but says he was hoping that the former Bafana Bafana coach would prove him wrong.

“It’s a pity, especially as a coach, you’re being judged by results. And obviously results haven’t been coming. I think coaching a big club like Kaizer Chiefs comes with a lot of expectations, it doesn’t matter whether you want to build or how much time you need to get the club to the level where everybody can be happy,” said the former Bafana Bafana captain.

“But it is hard and unfortunately it’s what happens in a game of football. You learn, but surely it’s a big disappointment because you don’t want to see inconsistency in the team especially when you bring a coach like that. It takes a while to steady the team.”

ALSO READ: Fleurs targets silverware after joining Chiefs

With Johnson having taken over the club as coach on interim-basis, Radebe is still uncertain whether the former Al Ahly assistant will be able to help the club get to their best.

“I don’t know. To be honest, I’m not sure anymore. This is a big brand, Kaizer Chiefs. There are lots of expectations for the club and I think everybody knows. It’s a massive club that needs a big push. It needs character and attitude to get back to that level again,” he concluded.

Johnson will be sitting on the bench for the first time in his new role as a coach when they take on Golden Arrows in a DStv Premiership tie at Mpumalanga Stadium on Saturday.

For more news your way

Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.