JOHANNESBURG - Kaizer Chiefs coach Giovanni Solinas was humble in receiving his Absa Premiership Coach of the Month on Thursday afternoon, giving all the credit to his Amakhosi players for turning the results around in September. The talismanic Khama Billiat was also handed the Player of the Month accolade alongside his coach in what was a clean sweep for Chiefs.
“I want to credit the club and my players for this award, the all put in the work. I am so lucky because I have outstanding players, and I repeat that the credit must go to them,” Solinas, who is in his maiden season at Naturena, said.
His tenure began horribly, the Italian going four league matches without victory until finally earning his first Premier League win away to Cape Town City – an emphatic 4-1 win. It was followed by a 2-0 victory at Free State Stars, and rounding off the month of September with a similar scoreline at FNB Stadium when Chiefs hosted AmaZulu.
“They have respect for this club, and that is the mentality,” Solinas continued. “I will say only one thing about Khama, everybody wants to play in Europe, but not everybody can play there. I want is different to I can, and Khama can play there.”
Other coaches that were considered for the award were Kaitano Tembo of SuperSport United, Josef Vukusic of Polokwane City and Orlando Pirates’ Micho Sredojevic. Judging panel: Marks Maponyane (convenor), Baba Mthethwa, Thabiso Tema, Brian Mofokeng, Lebo Motsoeli.
Congratulations to #AbsaPrem Coach of the Month of September 2018: Giovanni Solinas #HailTheChief #Amakhosi4Life pic.twitter.com/3kOwL1BoIB
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) October 4, 2018
@superjourno