Cavin Johnson is helping Kaizer Chiefs' management more than most would admit.
During a time when Amakhosi have had to make big decisions regarding the appointment of a permanent head coach, Johnson appears to have steadied the ship at Naturena and his work as interim mentor has given Amakhosi management ample time to take stock of what has happened over the last few months and how they can go about picking the right man to finally get the club out of the mess its been in for years.
Under the guidance of Johnson, Amakhosi have managed to pick up nine points, which is two less than what they managed under Molefi Ntseki in nine matches. Some pressure has been taken off management and that means they do not have to rush into making an appointment that will benefit the team going forward.
At this rate, Johnson can continue until the end of the season as interim coach and even put his name in the hat for a permanent job. This, in a way, is like an audition for him. But no matter what happens, his presence would no doubt have helped in managing the tough times the club has gone through. His presence has given them an opportunity to look at all the candidates they might be considering, without the pressure from the demanding supporters who usually want management to act fast when things are not going well.
Before the end of the year, Amakhosi have two more matches to play in the Premiership, against Richards Bay and Sekhukhune United, a big opportunity to end the year closer to the top than the bottom in terms of points.
Should Amakhosi finish the year on a high and get at least three points from these two matches, I feel that they should keep Johnson at the helm for the rest of the season because he has the potential to lead the team to qualify for either the CAF Champions League or Confederation Cup.
Despite the news of racial tension in the squad and Itumeleng Khune's suspension recently, Johnson seems to have the confidence of the players and this is important when you are coaching a club as big as Chiefs. The players are playing well under him and working hard to get points on the board. He is giving the younger players an opportunity to play, which is something management is apparently pleased with.
With his experience, Amakhosi have a good coach and possibly someone who can stay in the position beyond the end of this season. But no matter what happens, Johnson has certainly given management breathing space to work behind the scenes and making sound decisions, without having to worry about the results or how the team is playing.
