Molefi Ntseki has stated that he was unfazed by the criticism and negativity that followed his appointment as Kaizer Chiefs’ head coach in June.
The former Bafana Bafana mentor took over from Arthur Zwane, who was demoted back to his previous role as an assistant coach.
Zwane had a turbulent season as the Amakhosi legend failed to win a trophy, extending the drought to eight campaigns. In addition, the Soweto finished outside the top three in the league, failing to qualify for the CAF inter-club competitions.
It is for this reason that the Chiefs management felt a change in the technical team was needed, as the club also played unattractive football under Zwane.
Addressing the South African media for the first time since jumping onto the hot seat at Naturena, Ntseki said he has been accustomed to the naysayers throughout his coaching career.
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NTSEKI SAYS THE NEGATIVITY IS ‘NOTHING NEW’
“It has happened to me since I started coaching 25 years ago as an amateur coach,” said Ntseki during Wednesday’s launch of the 2023/24 DStv Premiership season in Johannesburg.
“There will always be people with their own opinions in terms of how you do things, about your approach and the type of players you use. For the past 25 years, I went through this, and I was not surprised. The most important thing is I have a job to do, and that job has to be done to the best of my ability.
“Also, if my way of having a player-centred approach has worked for me in the past, that is what will definitely work for me in the new position I am in. The same thing happened with Bafana Bafana, so there is nothing new.”
In addition, Molefi Ntseki, who will take charge of his first game as Chiefs coach on 6 August in a league game against Chippa United at Moses Mabhida Stadium declared: “Maybe it is me being a South African because, as South Africans, we have little love for ourselves.
“Hopefully, over time, we will outgrow the negativity about ourselves and become a positive nation.”