Doctor Rules Out Chiefs Coaching Return
Kaizer Chiefs legend Doctor Khumalo has poured cold water on talk of a sensational return to the Amakhosi bench, saying a coaching comeback would damage the brand he has built.
The former midfield maestro, who remains one of the most recognisable figures associated with Chiefs, addressed speculation about whether he would consider coaching the club again should Amakhosi part ways with current co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef.
Khumalo made it clear that a return to the technical area is not part of his immediate plans, despite his deep history with the Soweto giants.
“No, I don’t think so,” Khumalo said.
“If I were to go back to coaching, I would be messing up with my brand.
“At the moment, it’s something like being out there (at Kaizer Chiefs) if a chance arrives and also being out there just to advise (players).”
Khumalo’s comments reflect a man who values his current role and public image, having transitioned from the dugout to the studio in recent years.
The 58-year-old is currently an analyst at SABC Sport, where he continues to influence South African football through insight and mentorship rather than direct coaching duties.
Khumalo’s history with Chiefs in a coaching capacity, however, is extensive. Khumalo once coached Amakhosi alongside Ace Khuse as co-coaches during the 2002/03 season.
The Soweto-born then stepped into a new role in the 2003/04 campaign, serving as assistant coach to the late Ted Dumitru, further sharpening his experience at the top-flight level.
In 2005, Khumalo was appointed as the youth and development coach at Amakhosi, a position he held until 2012.
The 2012 year marked another step up for him, as Khumalo was promoted to assistant coach of the first team under Stuart Baxter.
That period proved highly successful, with Khumalo part of the technical team that guided Chiefs to two league titles in the 2012/13 and 2014/15 seasons.
The former Bafana Bafana midfielder also helped Amakhosi lift the Nedbank Cup in 2013 and the MTN8 in 2014, cementing his contribution to one of the club’s most successful modern eras.
Khumalo left Chiefs in 2017 to become technical director at Baroka. He was later appointed caretaker coach in 2018 before departing the Limpopo-based club in the same year.
Since then, Khumalo has not worked at any club as a head coach or assistant coach, choosing instead to build his profile in the media space while remaining connected to the game.
