Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed that newly appointed coach Stuart Baxter won’t be in charge of their CAF Champions League match against Wydad Athletic Club.
Baxter was announced as Gavin Hunt’s replacement last week for his second spell with the club but Amakhosi have confirmed that assistant coaches Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard will stay in charge of the game while the Baxter’s work permit is being sorted.
“Kaizer Chiefs will travel to Morocco on Wednesday to face Wydad Athletic Club in the CAF Champions League first leg semifinal clash at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.
“Just as in the last two DStv Premiership games of the season, coaches Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard will continue to sit on the bench while newly appointed coach Stuart Baxter and the Club’s administration work on obtaining his work permit,” Chiefs confirmed in a statement.
“Coach Baxter will however travel with the team to the North African country as the team gets ready for the all-important semifinal game against two-time CAF Champions League winners. The game will take place on Saturday, 19 June with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 in Morocco (21:00 South African Time),” stated the club.
Given the exploits of Zwane and Dillon so far, it only makes sense that they are allowed to complete the continental games with Kaizer Chiefs. However, for an experienced manager like Baxter, that game could easily have come as a good opportunity for him to make an instant impact at the club. However, delay in work permit issues means none of that would be happening just yet.
Baxter would however get the chance to take a closer look at the players available at his disposal and possibly the areas he needs to strengthen ahead of a new campaign.