Motaung’s harsh words for Baxter
Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung gave Stuart Baxter a dressing down during a press conference at Naturena.
|||Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung gave Stuart Baxter a dressing down at Naturena yesterday, adding spice to what will be an emotional reunion when the Scotsman leads SuperSport United for the first time against his former club at Cape Town Stadium tomorrow night.
Motaung wasn’t pleased about Baxter’s comments regarding Chiefs players Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Reyaad Pieterse, whose contracts end in June.
But Baxter clarified that he had been quoted out of context when it was reported that he was after them.
The coach said that if they were available and wanted to leave Chiefs, he wouldn’t mind signing them, just like any other coach in the country.
The clarification meant nothing to Motaung, who went on the offensive.
“The only thing that I can tell Stuart is that Kaizer Chiefs is here in Naturena,” Motaung said.
“There is only one Kaizer Chiefs. He found the players here at Kaizer Chiefs, and he left them here. He must start a new SuperSport chapter. Every day we read about him talking about Chiefs. That history is gone. We have closed that chapter.
“It’s Steve Komphela’s time at Kaizer Chiefs. He must talk about SuperSport. It’s only fair, with due respect. We wish him luck at SuperSport United.”
Motaung said with confidence that the pair would stay at the club, but he had refused to reveal anything about the protracted negotiations they had with Itumeleng Khune, Tefu Mashamaite and Mandla Masango at the end of last season.
Mashamaite and Masango eventually went abroad.
“The policy is simple at Chiefs,” Motaung said.
“The players have been made offers. The ball is in their court to sign. They know where their bread is buttered. It’s not for us to be running around because somebody is making noises about signing them.
“Anybody who wants to make a Chiefs somewhere, it’s unfortunate because there is one Chiefs. Baxter has the track record he has with Chiefs because of the quality players he found here.
“It’s unfortunate that he is still talking about Chiefs players while he is at SuperSport. There is no pressure on Yeye (Letsholonyane). We have discussed the contract with him, in principle we have agreed.
“It’s up to his agent to sit with him and finalise it. Yeye knows where is bread is buttered. Reyaad, we are just waiting for him. He told us that he needs time.” - The Mercury