Giovanni Solinas is the new Kaizer Chiefs coach. The Italian mentor’s appointment was announced by
the club’s Chairman, Kaizer Motaung on Friday afternoon, 13 July 2018.
“We always look at what a coach can do and we believe that with Solinas we have brought in a person
with the right mechanism and energy to do well,” explains Motaung the club’s choice.
The former defensive midfielder has an abundance of experience, having coached in Algeria, Saudi
Arabia and South Africa. His first job outside Italy was at Algeria’s ES Sétif in 2010, followed by stints
at CRB Belouizdad, JSM Béjaïa and MC Oran in the same country.
Solinas has had a taste of the African Champions League and Confederations Cup with JSM Béjaïa and
ES Sétif, with which he won the Algeria Cup. He has a Uefa Pro Licence and got a degree in Sport
Science at the University of Florence.
He joined Free State Stars in early 2016 and more recently coached Al-Faisaly in Saudi-Arabia. Solinas
reached with Free State Stars two semi-finals in the space of six months.
The Italian has signed a two-year contract with Kaizer Chiefs with the option for a one-year extension.
“We also looked at recruiting a coach who understands our league,” Motaung continues. “And
somebody who can help us do well on the African continent, as we will be participating in the
Confederations Cup.
“It’s important to understand that the game of football has become very scientific, which means that
the strength of the coach is the technical team around him, even though he will, of course, always be
the one in charge. We feel that Solinas is the right guy to guide this process.”
The 50-year-old Italian is excited about joining Amakhosi. “It’s a big opportunity as Kaizer Chiefs are a
big club, not only in South Africa but also on the African continent. Coaching a club of this magnitude
comes with a big responsibility. I will work hard day and night to make the Kaizer Chiefs Family and
the supporters happy.”
