Kaze explains why Sekhukhune turned to Zothwane as his right-hand man

Cedric Kaze says Sekhukhune United’s hierarchy, rather than his own backroom entourage, hand‐picked Papi Zothwane as his assistant after detailed talks on the profile of local coach he wanted beside him.

The Burundian, who returns to the Betway Premiership after leaving Kaizer Chiefs at the end of the 2025-26 season, opted not to bring any of his own staff when he took charge of Babina Noko. That goes against the convention of head coaches surrounding themselves with trusted lieutenants when they start a new job.

Instead, Sekhukhune confirmed former Richards Bay co-coach Zothwane as assistant, while also retaining Paulus Masehe within the technical team. Masehe had stepped in as caretaker coach after United parted company with Eric Tinkler towards the end of last season.

Speaking on Sports Night Amplified, Kaze outlined how the structure was put together and stressed he had been consulted on the kind of assistant he wanted to work with – and that it had to be someone rooted in South African football.

“We spoke with the management about the kind of technical team I was looking to assemble and I gave them the requirements of those positions and let them choose because we wanted local coaches who will help to settle things,” Kaze said.

Local brief leads club to Zothwane

Zothwane arrives at Sekhukhune United after his spell at Richards Bay, where he shared the dugout as co-coach with Ronnie Gabriel. His appointment, Kaze explained, followed a clear brief he had given the club on the characteristics his assistant should possess.

“I was involved in (mentioning) the qualities Papi has to have to be in the setup and when they told me they chose Papi, I was very happy. He has been a good player before, he has a very good experience in the league and he’s a coach who is respected by players,” Kaze said.

The head coach underlined that, while he did not identify Zothwane by name, the former midfielder matched every element of the profile he had described to management.

According to Kaze, Zothwane’s playing pedigree in the domestic game was a key attraction, particularly for the type of training sessions Sekhukhune intend to run.

“Also, when you do specific training, you want a coach who was a very good player to demonstrate, especially for attacking players, to give them those tricks he has mastered over the years. We’re also trying to assemble a younger team than the previous years,” the Burundian coach added.

Background to Kaze’s return

Kaze’s move to Sekhukhune marks his return to frontline coaching in South Africa’s top flight following his departure from Kaizer Chiefs, where he was not retained at the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign.

During his time at Chiefs, the coach attracted both praise and criticism, including scrutiny from those who labelled him a “translator” rather than a tactician – a perception he has previously addressed publicly.

At Sekhukhune, he inherits a side that reshaped its technical team late last season. Tinkler’s exit led to Masehe’s short spell as caretaker, and the club have now opted for continuity by keeping Masehe on as part of Kaze’s staff alongside Zothwane.

While Kaze has chosen not to surround himself with familiar assistants from his previous roles, he believes the blend of local knowledge, playing experience and youth in his new technical set‐up can help settle the squad and support his transition into the role.

Sekhukhune United, known as Babina Noko, will again compete in the Betway Premiership, with Kaze and his restructured bench tasked with pushing the club forward after a period of instability in the dugout.