By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Arthur Zwane has been named Kaizer Chiefs coach on a three-year deal. He will be assisted by Dillon Sheppard.
Zwane has previously stood in as an interim coach at various times in the past including most recently between April and May 2022 following the departure of Stuart Baxter.
He retired in 2010 to become assistant to Vladimir Vermezovic at Kaizer Chiefs and worked with the first team until May 2012, maintaining his role under Doctor Khumalo and Ace Khuse after they replaced the departing Vermezovic late in the season.
Shifting focus, he began working with the Chiefs Youth Academy Development programme in 2012, holding posts with the U-13, U-17 and U-19 teams for a period of four seasons before moving up to coach the Club’s Reserve Team.
During his time in the Youth Development structures, he helped discover and produce players such as Siyabonga Ngezana, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya, Sabelo Radebe, Njabulo Blom, Bruce Bvuma, Mduduzi Shabalala, Bontle Molefe, Keletso Sifama, Lebohang Lesako, Darryl Macheke, Thabo Mokwena and Happy Mashiane, as well as the likes of Lorenzo Gordinho, Zitha Kwinika, Given Thibedi, Sanele Tshabalala and Wiseman Meyiwa. He went on to win the inaugural Multichoice Diski Shield in 2018 with most of these players.
He has now been officially appointed the club’s permanent head coach ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
Chiefs’ club chairman Kaizer Motaung expressed his confidence in Zwane’s ability to steer Chiefs to glory.
“We would like to take this opportunity and congratulate coach Arthur Zwane for this big appointment. The plan we have been working on for many years of appointing Arthur as our head coach has come to fruition,” Motaung said.
“After seeing his passion for the game and his willingness to learn, we have been looking to bring him through to lead the senior when the time is right and we believe that time is now. We are also grateful that he has been patient and continued to work hard to advance his coaching skills and abilities by educating himself, which is key in the modern game.
“Arthur is the someone who grew up at Chiefs and has a full understanding of our culture. We did say last year when we appointed the Sporting Director and Head of Technical that we wanted them to work with people who understand our philosophy. This is important as the coach works closely with those two gentlemen on a daily basis.”
The club also confirmed that Zwane, who has a Uefa B Licence, Caf A and B Licence coaching badges, will start his duty immediately to plan for the new season.