Chiefs Target Zwane Return As Assistant Coach

Kaizer Chiefs are actively pursuing AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane to return to Naturena as the club’s assistant coach for the upcoming 2026/27 season.

Sportswire understands that securing the 52-year-old’s signature will be relatively straightforward, with Zwane reportedly yet to renew his contract with AmaZulu FC, which expires at the end of this month.

The Glamour Boys’ interest in their former tactician follows a stellar campaign where Zwane guided AmaZulu to a fourth-place finish in the Betway Premiership last term.

Usuthu finished just one spot behind Chiefs, who secured third place to qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup.

What is Fernando da Cruz’s New Technical Structure?

Amakhosi management is working around the clock to reinforce the backroom staff of newly appointed head coach Fernando da Cruz. The club recently confirmed 35-year-old Egyptian tactician Mahmoud Abbas as Da Cruz’s first assistant coach, adding significant continental experience to the bench.

“The sports science portfolio will come under the direction of Julien Le Heran, who was also born in France,” the club stated, adding that “more announcements will follow.”

However, the Chiefs hierarchy is determined to avoid a repeat of the technical imbalance suffered under Nasreddine Nabi. Nabi’s tenure relied on an all-foreign support staff, including Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze.

Following a volatile cycle, management axed Ben Youssef and Kaze at the end of the season, paving the way for Da Cruz’s arrival.

Why do Kaizer Chiefs Insist on a Local Assistant Coach?

While Kaze and Ben Youssef guided Chiefs to a third-place finish—marking the club’s first top-eight placement in two years—management now insists on appointing a local assistant who possesses an intimate understanding of the club’s unique culture and DNA.

Zwane fits the bill perfectly. He previously led Amakhosi to a fifth-place finish during the 2022/23 season after signing a three-year head coaching deal. Prior to that, he served as co-coach alongside Dillon Sheppard following the mid-season sacking of Stuart Baxter in 2021/22.

What is Arthur Zwane’s History with Kaizer Chiefs?

“10111” is a legendary figure at Naturena. Between 2000 and 2010, the dynamic winger made 252 appearances for the Glamour Boys, netting 32 goals and hoisting 12 major trophies.

His pedigree as a caretaker coach is equally historic. After replacing Gavin Hunt during the 2020/21 season, Zwane masterminded a historic CAF Champions League semi-final victory over Wydad Casablanca in Morocco, courtesy of a Samir Nurkovic strike. The result marked the first time a South African club tasted victory on Moroccan soil in the competition.

In a highly debated administrative decision, management reappointed Stuart Baxter to lead the team in the single-leg final, where Amakhosi ultimately lost to Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly. Five years later, sections of the Amakhosi faithful still argue that Zwane should have been allowed to finish the continental assignment he started.