Sekhukhune United FC have fired head coach Cedric Kaze after only seven competitive matches in charge. The Betway Premiership club announced the mutual agreement on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, ending a tenure that lasted barely two months.
Kaze was appointed ahead of the current campaign after his co-coaching arrangement at Kaizer Chiefs was not renewed. He guided the team to a pre-season victory in the inaugural Mafori Cup. His competitive record stood at three wins and four defeats, with nine goals scored and nine conceded. The decision represents one of the earliest coaching changes of the new Betway Premiership season.
What was Cedric Kaze's record?
Cedric Kaze's brief spell yielded mixed results. He secured three victories against Durban City, AmaZulu, and Polokwane City. The 1-0 win over Durban City opened the league season, while a thrilling 4-3 extra-time triumph over AmaZuly sent Sekhukhune into the MTN8 semi-finals. A 2-0 Limpopo derby win against Polokwane City was another high point.
However, four defeats defined his short reign. Three of those losses came against Orlando Pirates, including a 2-0 league defeat and a two-legged MTN8 semi-final exit. He also suffered a 2-0 loss to Kaizer Chiefs. Kaze was even sent off during one of the defeats to Pirates. The club's current league position reflects this inconsistency, sitting eighth with six points from four games. You can track their progress on the standings page.
Why was the timing so surprising?
The swiftness of the dismissal caught many off guard. Chairman Jonas Malatji had publicly backed Kaze as recently as Tuesday, dismissing reports of an imminent departure as "nonsense" and insisting the club remained behind the coach. This strong vote of confidence made the subsequent announcement hours later particularly striking.
Earlier in the week, speculation had begun to swirl about Kaze's future following the team's form. The club currently finds itself seven points behind league leaders Orlando Pirates. With three goals scored and four conceded in the league so far, the need for a change was evidently felt at the highest level despite the chairman's earlier comments.
Who takes charge now?
Assistant coach Paulos Masehe initially took temporary charge following Kaze's exit. The club has now confirmed Papi Zothwane as the interim head coach. Paulos Masehe and Nascent Nkhwashu will remain part of the technical team supporting Zothwane.
The new interim boss inherits a squad that shows promise but needs greater consistency. Their recent form in the league reads LWLW. The immediate focus will be on improving the team's offensive output and solidifying their defensive shape ahead of a busy period of fixtures, which you can view on our fixtures page. The squad details are available on our squad page for fans to review.
What does this mean for the season?
Sekhukhune United's ambitions for the 2026/27 season remain intact despite the early upheaval. The club sits in seventh place with six points, having won two and lost two of their opening four league matches. The goal difference stands at minus one.
The search for a permanent successor to Cedric Kaze will now begin in earnest. For now, Papi Zothwane's task is to steady the ship and build on the positive moments from Kaze's brief tenure, starting with their next Betway Premiership fixture.
