Johannesburg – Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter failed to dismiss the media speculation linking him with the vacant job of Safa (South African Football Association) technical director of football on Wednesday.
“I think the job is interesting of course,” Baxter said, speaking at the club’s headquarters at Naturena, Johannesburg.
“At this moment in time I am the Chiefs coach and I will respect the club.”
Safa are set to make their announcement of a new coach on Saturday at Safa House in Nasrec.
However, the employment of a new technical director would be made at a later stage.
Baxter, who coached Bafana between 2004 and 2005, said he would engage with his employers, Amakhosi, in the coming days about his future.
“We are in a situation where speculation picks up speed and gets ahead of us. What we have tried to do is to get a clear assessment of what the situation is.
“You will understand that those discussions are between me and my employer. I am the Kaizer Chiefs coach therefore I respect my employers and I want to give them what I consider an accurate assessment of the situation.”
The 60 year-old Briton, described any association’s technical director’s position as an integral job, which he was honoured to be associated with.
“The technical director of any country is a very important job and it’s an honour to be mentioned especially in the country where I am working.”
Baxter said there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration before making a decision.
“There are some few thoughts I’ve got that I will in the few days bounce back and forth. But those conversations will be held within the club.
“I’ve worked at Safa and when I worked there the first time I found it very difficult to drive through policies. I don’t know if things have changed, maybe if they have the person who will go in will be able to drive in those policies.”
In the midst of the speculation surrounding his future, Baxter has been preparing his side for the Carling Black Label Cup, where they clash with arch rivals Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
For the upcoming season, the Phefeni club have signed Siphelele Mthembu and Levy Mokgothu.
Chiefs made three further signings – having promoted Chris Matombo, Hendrick Ekstein and Zitha Macheke from club’s youth ranks.
On the continental front, Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung, said the club was yet to make a final decision on whether or not they would take part in the Caf Champions League.
“Chiefs has policies and ways of doing things. There are procedures in place that we have to follow. It’s only in September that we must have a final decision,” Motaung said.
Chiefs automatically qualified for the continental tournament as Premiership runners-up last season. – Sapa