Baxter: Why I believe in Nkhatha

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has explained why he never lost faith in Kingston Nkhatha when he was relentlessly booed. 

The Zimbabwean has this season scored eight goals in 13 starts in all competitions, including one against Black Africa over the weekend as Amakhosi progressed to the first round of the CAF Champions League after winning 4-1 on aggregate.

For Baxter, though, it goes back to 11 August 2012 – the day many will remember as one when Bernard Parker scored four goals against a hapless AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium. In Baxter’s own words, Nkhatha was ‘world class’, albeit for just 15 minutes and that, to a large extent, has stood Nkhatha in good stead in terms of team selection.

“I have never had any doubts about him. I don’t know if you guys remember when we played AmaZulu and we beat them 6-0. Kingston scored a goal and before then he was getting a lot of stick (from the fans). He was nervous. For the next 10-15 minutes after he scored, Kingston Nkhatha was world class. I’m not joking,” Baxter insists.

“He tried everything … his confidence was so high. I have never stopped thinking about those 15 minutes and whenever people boo him, I have always had it in my mind that I must not listen to that because I saw his potential against AmaZulu. He does have massive potential, but I don’t think he touches that potential – not very often. But he certainly has improved his level from a 5/10 to 7/10. I think that’s about what he’s done and I still think he can do an 8/10 average.

“That’s his challenge and the boo boys will have no place. So I explained to him that if I believe that and his teammates believe that, then it doesn’t really matter what everybody thinks. More and more of our supporters are starting to believe that and they stop me on the streets to say, ‘You know, he is coming good coach. We knew it all the time (Baxter laughs)’. I think he’s done a good job and I hope he continues,” he adds. KickOff.com