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Solinas appointment shows Chiefs are desperate

Cape Town - The long wait is finally over as Kaizer Chiefs announced Giovanni Solinas as the Absa Premiership giants new head coach.

Amakhosi confirmed that the Italian will lead the side ahead of the 2018/19 campaign following Steve Komphela's resignation in April - two months before his contract ended. 

Solinas spent the majority of his coaching career in Algeria's top-flight with four different sides, before a spell in Saudi Arabia with Al-Faisaly FC, who he last coached in the 2017/18 season.

The 50-year-old is familiar with South Africa's top flight, having guided Free State Stars to a 12th-place finish in 2015/16 but soon after resigned from his post citing "personal reasons" for his decision.

During his first stint at Ea Lla Koto, he took them to the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup where they were beaten 4-2 by Orlando Pirates.

Solinas then re-joined Stars in September 2016 for a second spell before having his contract terminated in January 2017 with the tactician then strongly linked to the Buccaneers.

However, Pirates opted to bring in Milutin Sredojevic with the Italian heading back to Saudi Arabia. 

Last month, Amakhosi were linked with their former title-winning coach and current Bafana Bafana boss Stuart Baxter.

The idea of Baxter returning to Naturena was welcomed by fans after having brought much joy to the Glamour Boys.

Eventually, the Bafana head coach opened up about who his former club should appoint, which sent a clear indication that he had no intention of ditching his current post. 

"The issue of the coach is a very sensitive issue," Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung said earlier this week after being asked when will the club announce a new coach.

"If you check what transpired last year and the past three seasons as a club, the chairperson (Kaizer Motaung) is obviously overseeing everything.

"We've got to make sure about who ever we bring on board. So, it is not an easy job.

"Kaizer Chiefs is not like a small club where we just appoint tomorrow. We've got to look at a lot of things."

The appointment of Solinas shows that Amakhosi are desperate to get the ball rolling especially after securing the services of Zimbabwean star forward Khama Billiat.

Solinas' record in the Premiership does make for sore eyes - played 36, won 13, drawn 8, lost 15 - leaving the Italian with a relatively low-winning percentage of 36.11 percent.

However, the Italian could surprise many onlookers and turn Chiefs into a force that fans desperately want to see.

Solinas is still waiting on his work permit and will not be in the technical area this weekend to oversee the side when they play in the Maize Cup semi-finals against ABC Motsepe League outfit Buya Msuthu.

His first match is expected to be against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday, July 21 in the Shell Cup.

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