Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter withdrew from the limelight on Wednesday, giving credit to his players for wrapping up their second league and cup double in three seasons.
Chiefs sealed the 2014-2015 Absa Premiership title in style with three games remaining, with a 4-1 victory over Polokwane City at FNB Stadium. They went to an unassailable 15-point lead over second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, and, on 63 points, are on course to break Downs' 65-point record set only last season.
Baxter returned to South Africa - a country he left in 2005 on a sour note after a trying period as Bafana Bafana coach - three years ago and won a league and cup double with Chiefs in 2012-2013.
The coach has joined an elite club of coaches who have won the PSL more than once, with this season's double. Chiefs are also MTN8 champions. But Baxter preferred not to take the limelight from his players.
"My time here before probably enabled me to test some ideas on how to deal with African players versus European players," Baxter said.
"I understand the voices raised against foreign coaches who don't understand the African way. I understand people are scared players will be suffocated. But I also would like to think we can all get better - not we, Kaizer Chiefs, but I think all South African football can get better.
"It's pleasing we've been successful. But, again, coaches pat themselves on the back and I could talk all night but basically the players have done the job. And if they didn't do the job for me, I'm sure the knives would be out here."
Baxter said spurning an 11-point lead to finish runners-up to Sundowns last season was the one blemish of his three years at Chiefs.
"We did everything in our power to win it last year. We learnt a few lessons from last year."
Baxter gives players credit for triumph
Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter withdrew from the limelight on Wednesday, giving credit to his players for wrapping up their second league and cup double in three seasons.
Chiefs sealed the 2014-2015 Absa Premiership title in style with three games remaining, with a 4-1 victory over Polokwane City at FNB Stadium. They went to an unassailable 15-point lead over second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, and, on 63 points, are on course to break Downs' 65-point record set only last season.
Baxter returned to South Africa - a country he left in 2005 on a sour note after a trying period as Bafana Bafana coach - three years ago and won a league and cup double with Chiefs in 2012-2013.
The coach has joined an elite club of coaches who have won the PSL more than once, with this season's double. Chiefs are also MTN8 champions. But Baxter preferred not to take the limelight from his players.
"My time here before probably enabled me to test some ideas on how to deal with African players versus European players," Baxter said.
"I understand the voices raised against foreign coaches who don't understand the African way. I understand people are scared players will be suffocated. But I also would like to think we can all get better - not we, Kaizer Chiefs, but I think all South African football can get better.
"It's pleasing we've been successful. But, again, coaches pat themselves on the back and I could talk all night but basically the players have done the job. And if they didn't do the job for me, I'm sure the knives would be out here."
Baxter said spurning an 11-point lead to finish runners-up to Sundowns last season was the one blemish of his three years at Chiefs.
"We did everything in our power to win it last year. We learnt a few lessons from last year."
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