Chiefs coach offers apology

Kaizer Chiefs coach Cavin Johnson apologised to the team’s millions of supporters for yet another trophy disappointment in the club’s humiliating near decade-long barren spell after being dumped out of the Nedbank Cup by Milford FC.

Chiefs, battling in sixth place in the Premier Soccer League, will go into a ninth season without silverware after a humiliating 5-4 loss on penalties to the Motsepe Foundation Championship side after extra time ended at 0-0 at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday night.

Milford goalkeeper Siphamandla Hleza stopped Ranga Chivaviro’s spot-kick in extra time, and pulled off a string of other saves, then capped his man-of-the-match performance by striking the winning penalty in the shoot-out.

The defeat spurred “spaces” on X on Monday where fans angrily expressed their displeasure at Chiefs’ continued woes.

“You’ve got to apologise to them, the 16-million supporters we have,” Johnson said at his postmatch media conference. “I am sure they will have seen the game on television”.

Johnson was at his wits’ end at how his team, which had showed promise going five league matches unbeaten to edge up the table, capitulated to the first-division campaigners.

“Not a good day at the office for Kaizer Chiefs,” he said.

“We had four clear chances besides the other 15 that could have gone in. And we also went and missed the penalty.

“We have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and play ... as hard as we can.”

Chiefs — on 25 points, 14 behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns — meet Moroka Swallows in the league at the FNB Stadium on Saturday (5.45pm).