Willard Katsande says Kaizer Chiefs need "serial winner" after dismissing co-coaches

Kaze and Ben Youssef were installed after Nasreddine Nabi's unexpected departure at the beginning of the recently completed Betway Premiership campaign.

While the pair enjoyed a productive league campaign, guiding the club to a third-placed finish, they came up short in the other cup competitions, including a group stage exit in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Katsande spent 10 years playing for Amakhosi from 2011 to 2021, winning the South African top-flight in the 2012/13 and 2014/15 seasons, alongside the Nedbank Cup (2012/13) and MTN 8 (2014) success.

Reflecting on the campaign than ended with Chiefs 15 points behind league winners Orlando Pirates, Katsande revealed his expectations for the new season.

“Football is a business, so certain decisions must be made,” he said in the Sowetan. "Kaizer Chiefs are an ambitious club, so of course, the co-coaches have done well. They deserve a nod, but if you look before the season ended, it was clear that management wanted the Champions League spot.

"Going back to the Confed Cup, it's good, but the club made it clear in the beginning that they want to finish in the top two. Look at Mamelodi Sundowns; they won the second star, and Orlando Pirates won the league.

"The minute Pirates won the league, there was pressure on Chiefs no matter what. I'm not surprised because at the end of the day, the club needs to win the league."

“Yes, the coaches did well from where the club were in the previous seasons, but it is not enough. They qualified for the Confederation Cup, but there is no trophy.”

Manqoba Mngqithi and Pitso Mosimane are potential candidates for the vacant head coach role, with Katsande adding: "We need a serial winner who can control the dressing room. It will be easy for Pitso to flourish in this environment. He is a serial winner," he said.