Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter sweet talks his new club

Stuart Baxter this week quietly assumed his fifth coaching job in SA, rejoining Kaizer Chiefs after being six years away.

When he first arrived in March 2004 to coach Bafana Bafana, the Briton was a spring chicken, two years shy of 50 years.

In all his previous arrivals, at Bafana twice, SuperSport United and now at Chiefs for the second stint, there was a bit of pomp and ceremony accompanying his unveiling.

To say his expected announcement at Naturena on Wednesday was subdued would be an understatement. One microphone, placed below his mouth by Amakhosi's communication manager Vina Maphosa was all that Baxter had.

The Sunday Times tried this week to have its own time with Baxter, but like many others, was politely denied and referred to the monologue he had with Maphosa.

What Maphosa delivered with Baxter, though not as spectacular, mimicked what former SA president Jacob Zuma had with SABC political editor Mzwandile Mbeje when Zuma reluctantly resigned in February 2018.

By all accounts, it would seem this set-up suited Baxter as he looked to be in no mood to answer questions from strangers outside Chiefs' premises, especially about how he had exited his last job in India with Odisha FC in February.

"Given the unfortunate nature of my exit from India and unfortunate comments, and to be very honest, stupid comments that I made [on rape], I felt strongly that I need to make another apology before recommencing my work in SA.

"Anything that I said that offended anybody I humbly apologise. I know that it is a heinous thing that it seemed I was making light of. That was absolutely not my intention. That doesn't reflect [on] me as a person. But I do know that many people were upset and for that I'm truly sorry," said Baxter in a one-minute-30-seconds audio clip.

With that taken care of, Baxter's fifth instalment as a coach in SA began.

If he gets his work permit, the coach who won four trophies with Chiefs between 2013 and 2015, will be on the bench with his lieutenants Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard, when Chiefs play in Morocco on Saturday.

Amakhosi face Wydad Athletic in the first leg of the Caf Champions League semifinal.

"I've got to try and identify a couple of things, maybe tactically, for these games," the new Chiefs coach said of the games against the two-time African champions.

"I'm hoping they [the games] will serve as good preparation for and as a springboard into the season."

But as much as Baxter tried to put every Chiefs player at ease after his arrival, the reality is that Chiefs need a huge overhaul and he and the club will need to execute it.

However, Baxter being a good reader of the atmosphere, was never going to offend anyone in his first interview.

A lot of names, including Sifiso Hlanti, Njabulo Ngcobo and Kgaogelo Sekgota of Swallows FC and Stellenbosch FC's Phathutshedzo Nange, have been heavily linked with joining Chiefs.

But Baxter knows there is a big match to be played on Saturday and he will need everyone, including close to 10 Chiefs players who are yet to be assured of their future with the club, to be on his side. Hence his sweet talk about them on his arrival.

It remains to be seen, however, if Baxter's kind words will inspire his charges to outsmart Wydad, who won the Champions League in 2017.

As Baxter said, the result Chiefs get on Saturday will be key.

What may help Chiefs, which is an advantage also to their opponents, is that they are not meeting for the first time in this season's edition.

Chiefs lost 4-0 to Wydad in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in an opening Group B match in February. But a crucial 1-0 victory over the same team at the FNB Stadium in the return leg contributed immensely to Amakhosi reaching the competition's last four for the first time in their history.

Baxter will study the tape of both those matches, trying to find out what he can do to outfox coach Faouzi Benzati on the Wydad bench.

A draw in Morocco will be celebrated, but it will be what Chiefs do on home soil on June 26 that will really count.