Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has sung the praises of Keagan Dolly after his masterclass performance in the 4-0 victory over Chippa United.
Dolly grabbed a brace and two assists and combined brilliantly with his former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town teammate Khama Billiat to inspire the Amakhosi to an emphatic victory.
And Baxter singled out the star midfielder for praise.
“I am very pleased with the result, the character the players showed and especially pleased with Keagan Dolly because he was outstanding,” said the Amakhosi mentor.
“He impressed with his pressing of the ball, his one-versus-one play with or without the ball, his hard work and the goals he scored. I am very pleased for him and it was nice to give the chairman three points on his 77th birthday.
“He’s worked very hard. I can’t accept responsibility because from a coach comes inspiration and from the player comes motivation. If you give him a plan and he sticks to it it is good.
“He hadn’t played for a long time and I am sure you understand that when you are out of the team, you are not part of the set-up, you are not playing, you lose your motivation and maybe you lose that drive that keeps you in top shape.”
Dolly arrived back from his spell in Ligue 1 with Montpellier carrying too much weight but has worked himself back to full fitness and into top form. And Baxter said form is temporary but class is permanent and that it was only a matter of time before the number ten began to sparkle once again.
“He was a few kilos overweight,” said Baxter. “He needed to work on that and I didn’t want to shove him in because the touch and vision doesn’t go, the left foot doesn’t go.
“You are tempted to throw him in but we have managed him carefully up to where he is today and I think he is in good shape.”
The Glamour Boys next face high-flying SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday.
