POLITICS

"Why Baxter quit Amakhosi!" – Daily Sun

"Friction with Bobby Motaung is to blame!" – front page lead, June 3 2015

Daily Sun (June 3 2015) - FORMER Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter said yesterday he didn’t want to open any “sores” on his departure from the club.

The Scotsman proclaimed calmly that his exit was friendly.

BUT DAILY SUN LEARNED RELIABLY THAT HE QUIT AS HE AND MANAGER BOBBY MOTAUNG COULDN’T SEE EYE TO EYE!

Despite denials from Baxter, executive chairman Kaizer Motaung and Bobby, Daily Sun sources said a “lot of home truths” were spelled out when Baxter and Bobby met on 22 May.

Baxter reportedly left that meeting without any decision on his future at Amakhosi.

Later, it’s said, Baxter negotiated to leave without having to pay back the remaining year owed on his contract. His agent Steve Kapeluschnik could not be reached to confirm figures or the departure agreement.

But the Motaungs and Baxter all sang from the same hymn sheet yesterday.

Motaung senior went out of his way to say there was no bad blood.

Baxter denied to Daily Sun two Saturdays ago that he was leaving for another club.

But he admitted “serious issues” between Bobby and himself had to be resolved before he agreed to continue and complete the year remaining on his contract.

A week later, it emerged that Baxter had gone to Turkey with a view to taking over at Genclerbirligi FC. But he shrugged that off as “wild speculation” that would be cleared up at yesterday’s press conference.

“There won’t be any finger pointing from me to spoil what has been a beautiful three-year journey,” he said.

It’s said that Baxter’s biggest grievance was that without his knowledge, Bobby signed players like David Zulu and Levy Mokgothu in previous seasons and now Daniel Cardoso from Free State Stars.

Baxter was also annoyed at losing striker Kingston Nkhatha to SuperSport United in January.

But Bobby said: “I’ve worked with the coach for the past three years. There have never been problems between myself and him and we worked as professionals ... there were one or two differences of views.”

See the Daily Sun’s new website for more on this and other stories....

 

The Daily Sun is South Africa's largest daily newspaper with an average circulation of 274 165 (Audit Bureau of Circulations 2nd Quarter 2014) and a readership of 5.7m (as per AMPS 2012ab). Its Facebook page can be accessed here. It can be followed on Twitter here. To find about advertising on the Daily Sun click here.

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