Township Rollers’ Nikola Kavazovic set to take over as new Kaizer Chiefs coach

by Staff Reporter

Monday Apr 16, 2018. 12:30

With speculation doing the rounds that Kaizer Chiefs are looking for coach Steve Komphela’s replacement, a source in Botswana has confirmed that Township Rollers coach Nikola Kavazovic will lead Amakhosi next season.

Sources close to the development in Botswana revealed that the former Amakhosi defender will leave the Naturena-based side as his three-year contract expires at the end of the season.

Just after their 1-0 win over Platinum Stars at the FNB Stadium, Komphela’s post-match reaction suggested that he is sending his farewell messages.

He spoke to SuperSport TV after the game and said “as he goes out, he thanks everyone who has put pressure on him”.

The fourth-placed Chiefs were under pressure to bag a win after suffering a 3-0 defeat against Chippa United at the same venue last weekend.

Resulting from that defeat, the club’s fans pelted the coach and the players with objects as they exited the pitch, shouting for the coach to leave.

“As I go out, I must thank everybody" said Komphela after Chiefs' win on Sunday.

“Personally, I must thank everyone who has put pressure on me. I couldn’t have been the coal that I am. I couldn’t have been the diamond that I am. I would have stayed a simple muddy house.
“It is through pressure that you get better.

“But you have to accept the pressure because at the back of not accepting pressure you are denying “God what he wants you to do.

“He is preparing for another environment - it could be outside football, it could be anywhere else. So don’t say no to challenges, rather seek more wisdom.

“I have grown immensely. I am not the same coach that came to Chiefs, as I go out I must thank everybody.

“The pressure that you receive makes you a better person. Emotionally, I was very weak as a person but if you ask me now the emotions are stronger and that moves deeper into the levels of faith.

“Maybe I need to be more faithful and the only way to do that is to have emotions that are strong and stable, that nothing hurts you but that comes from thinking.”

The Soweto giants have endured a two and a half trophyless years under Komphela’s reign and word is that Kavazovic will head to Johannesburg and succeed the former Bafana Bafana skipper.

“Yes, Kavazovic is coming to the PSL and take over at Kaizer Chiefs - Komphela is leaving,” said the source.

The Serbian manager has led Rollers to the CAF Champions League group stages, Popa (as Rollers is affectionately known) became the first club from Botswana to achieve that feat.

In their domestic league campaign, they sit at the summit of the BTC Premiership table with 53 points from 24 games.