Pitso to Kaizer Chiefs? Three reasons to forget it

A section of Kaizer Chiefs supporters have revisited an old wish: Pitso Mosimane to Naturena.

After Nasreddine Nabi’s departure last month, many Amakhosi fans are once again calling for the record-breaking coach to take over.

Here are three reasons why Pitso Mosimane to Kaizer Chiefs doesn’t add up.

PITSO MOSIMANE TO REPLACE NASREDDINE NABI AT KAIZER CHIEFS IS UNREALISTIC

Mosimane, the only coach with a record five Betway Premiership titles and an unmatched three CAF Champions League crowns, has been without a club since leaving Esteghlal FC in Iran earlier this year. The split came after a salary dispute, perhaps a reminder that working with ‘Jingles’ comes at a high cost.

Interestingly, a few weeks before Kaizer Chiefs appointed Nabi in July 2024, Mosimane publicly declared on Soccer Africa that he was ready to take the job. “If it has to be, it will be. Do I want to coach Kaizer Chiefs? Why not?” he said. “I declare to you officially on TV. I am here, I am available, I’m a professional coach.”

Fast forward to the end of his first season. Nabi went on to guide Amakhosi to a ninth-place finish in the Betway Premiership, a frustrating result for such a high-profile appointment, but he did manage to end the club’s 10-year trophy in style: Winning the Nedbank Cup in June, a title that booked Kaizer Chiefs a place in the CAF Condeferation Cup and kept him in the job to start the new campaign.

Unfortunately for Nabi, early results in the new season failed to impress both his bosses and the fans. After a 3-1 loss to Sekhukhune United, just days before the CAF Confederation Cup kickoff, the club reportedly handed him a suspension letter over the alleged expiry of his coaching licence. Kaizer Chiefs later confirmed that Nabi “will not be with the team” until further notice while the matter was being “dealt with internally.” Three weeks have passed since, with assistants Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze taking charge of five games, managing one win, two draws, and two defeats. The response? A renewed public cry to bring in Pitso Mosimane.

Here are three reasons why Pitso Mosimane to Kaizer Chiefs is not possible…

1. The money issue

Mosimane’s price tag is steep, and so is that of his trusted backroom team. The Kagiso-born coach usually travels with a group of analysts and assistants who command solid salaries. Add the cost of settling with Nabi and his staff, and it’s easy to see why Amakhosi might struggle to make the numbers work.

2. The transfer approach

Kaizer Chiefs have been openly pushing for a youth-first philosophy, investing more in their academy than in big-money transfers. Mosimane, meanwhile, is known for building title-winning teams by signing proven, top players. At Mamelodi Sundowns, Al Ahly, and his Gulf clubs, he had the budget to chase excellence. Amakhosi are outside of that bracket.

3. THE PERSONALITY

Lastly, Mosimane’s personality. The former Bafana Bafana boss wears his heart on his sleeve. He never holds back when something doesn’t sit right. On the other hand, Kaizer Chiefs are a brand-conscious club that would struggle with public outbursts. Even Nabi, who’s relatively calm compared to Pitso, reportedly clashed with management over control of player signings. With Mosimane in the mix, the tensions would reach new levels.