Kaizer Chiefs have lashed out at a group of their disgruntled supporters who marched to the club’s base in Naturena last Saturday to protest against recent poor results.
A handful of Amakhosi fans went to the Kaizer Chiefs Village and handed a memorandum to club management. Concerns about the first-team leadership of co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze were raised.
Also, the quality of some players has left a section of fans convinced they don’t have the competitive level to represent the Soweto giants. Critics have also targeted club management for their decisions, especially in the transfer market.
Amakhosi are currently sitting on a four-match losing run, which has left them sixth on the Betway Premiership table. They risk missing out on achieving a target to play CAF Champions League football next season. Sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr announced the set target last week.
After ending a decade-long trophy drought by lifting the Nedbank Cup last season under then-head coach Nasreddine Nabi, Chiefs will almost certainly finish this term empty-handed. That has irked their fans, who decided to register their grievances at Naturena.
FALSEHOODS, INSULTS, ULTIMATUMS AND THREATS OF VIOLENCE: CHIEFS SUM UP PROTEST
Chiefs have identified a fan named Diakanya Ronald Makgato as the leader of last weekโs protest. Describing the march as โa small protest,โ the club has painted the gathering as chaotic and could have spiralled into acts of violence.
โAs such, we acknowledge that recent performances on the pitch have been challenging, fuelling a sense of disquiet among some sectors of our fans, and as a collective, we are working tirelessly to turn the situation around,โ said Chiefs in a statement.ย ย
โWhile we acknowledge the right of fans to voice their concerns, we strongly condemn the actions that followed the protest. The ultimatums and threats of violence directed at the club through various interviews conducted by Makgato after the protest are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.ย ย
โWhile we accept that not all people belong to branches, we also strongly condemn verbal attacks directed at disciplined Kaizer Chiefs supporters who belong to organised structures or branches recognised by the Club.ย
โInsults and threats of violence directed at branch members will also not be tolerated.ย We note with concern that certain falsehoods have been spread by Makgato, which did not appear in the document that he and the few individuals who accompanied him to the Village handed to our representatives. These spurious claims serve to sow discord among supporters.โย
In an exclusive interview with FARPost, Makgato promised unspecified action outside FNB Stadium on Sunday. That is, if Kaze and Ben Youssef are on the bench in the Chiefs league game against Durban City FC. โThe way forward is to wait for the next game. If the coaches are still on the bench, we will have to act outside the stadium after the match. That is what we will do,โ Makgato said.
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