Stuart Baxter ensures he always maintains a healthy distance between himself and social media. The Kaizer Chiefs coach is well aware his name is at the centre of some of the most furious conversations in that part of the world, but for his own peace of mind he insists on staying away.
This approach does not always work, as he himself conceded recently. While he does not have a Twitter account, those who do make a point of regularly keeping the Briton in the loop and letting him know exactly what is said about his name.
He is a hugely polarising figure among Chiefs fans and after the initial excitement that greeted his return to Naturena in June, those who are fiercely critical of his methods have become louder with each passing game. Even those who support the direction he is attempting to take also have days when they are not happy with the Briton.
At the centre of much of the conversation is Baxter’s perceived reliance on older players and his supposed reluctance to entrust greater responsibility to younger players.
I spent almost two hours on the phone on Monday with a man who is a staunch Chiefs fan but also fiercely opposed to Baxter’s regime. I usually ignore his calls after Chiefs matches because they always follow the same predictable, angry and screaming pattern. He screams into my ear half the time, curses Baxter for not playing his favourite players and curses some of the players the coach chooses to play. In the end it always feels as if I’m his personal punching bag.
It’s an abusive relationship I thought I’d found a way to carefully manage when I started to ignore his phone calls after Chiefs matches. But he slipped through the net on Monday when he called me with a number I was not familiar with and, after I answered, he went on the offensive.
Mind you, Chiefs actually won their league match against Swallows on Sunday but as has often been the case this season, victories do not necessarily guarantee a toning down of the criticism of Baxter.
This man and many of Baxter’s critics believe the coach has no faith in young players such as Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Happy Mashiane and Sabelo Radebe and only turns to some of them when he’s been backed into a corner by injuries, criticism from the media and other off-field reasons.
He said someone has to stand up for these youngsters as many of them put their hands up during the club’s hour of need when Chiefs could not sign players last season. Chiefs were banned from signing players for two transfer windows after being found guilty by Fifa of illegally signing Andriamirado “Dax” Andrianarimanana in 2018 when he allegedly had a contract with his former club Fosa Juniors in his native Madagascar.
The Naturena club’s academy graduates and fringe players were suddenly entrusted with the responsibility of representing the badge during a challenging, stressful and insanely tough period, and they did so admirably by not only challenging for the league title against all odds until the final day of the season, but they also managed to reach the final of the Caf Champions League, losing to Egypt’s Al Ahly.
So it’s no surprise that Chiefs fans are extremely protective of these players. Their gratitude is understandable and it makes sense that they are not amused when they see these same starlets now banished to the bench or the stands under Baxter.
Not even victories against traditional rivals Orlando Pirates and Swallows were enough to buy the Briton some goodwill. It’s a tricky balancing act for the coach because Chiefs’ management hired him to end a long trophy drought that dates back to 2015, when Baxter himself led the side to their last league title.
Management may be as concerned as the fans that their talented youngsters are not getting a chance, but the reality is Chiefs are second on the standings and look a vastly improved side from last season.
Baxter is aware there are a lot of critics who would love to see the back of him, but, much like almost everything else these days, a lot of the outrage is more on social media than anywhere else. Small wonder then that he does not have a Twitter account.
• Follow Ntloko on Twitter at @ntlokom
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.