SAFA CEO Dennis Mumble: We are not talking to Chiefs for Baxter

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday Jul 10, 2018. 11:10

According to the South African Football Association, there are no talks between them and Kaizer Chiefs for the services of coach Stuart Baxter.

The SAFA CEO, Dennis Mumble says they will not entertain such news, but will take them as rumours.

Under the guidance of interim coach Patrock Mabedi, Chiefs will participate in a pre-season tournament, the Maize Cup this weekend which features the likes of Free State Stars, Chippa United and Buya Msuthu.

This comes after Amakhosi have been linked with Baxter’s return to lead the Soweto giants for a second spell after parting ways with Steve Komphela in April.

Baxter was in charge of Chiefs and helped them win the Nedbank Cup, MTN8 Cup and two Absa Premiership titles, and has been strongly linked with a move away from SAFA house.

However, Mumble has rubbished reports that talks are ongoing behind the scenes for the English mentor and emphasised the fact that there are no negotiations taking place.

“We'll continue not to say anything about it because it’s not something that affects us right now. There's nothing on the table,” said Mumble.

“Discussions are not on the table, we are not going to address it and whoever it is that started [the rumours] will have to go out and explain to the public why they started that. But we are not going to say anything about that now, there's nothing on the table.

“We signed the coach for five years and he's got a contract until 2022 after the World Cup [in Qatar]. You know that we've always signed coaches for the long haul.

“As far as I'm concerned, Stuart Baxter is our coach and we are not going to say anything anymore about that.”

Amakhosi are in their pre-season and will face Buya Msuthu in the Maize Cup on Saturday July 14 at James Motlatsi Stadium.