Chiefs’ broken promises to their fans

In 2021, Kaizer Chiefs fans marched to Naturena to air their grievances to the club’s management, particularly to the Motaung family. The basis of their concerns was the club’s lack of silverware since 2015, which was during Stuart Baxter’s time. Another concern was the club’s ongoing chopping and changing of coaches. In total, there were 12 demands made, which Chiefs led by Jessica Motaung and Kaizer Motaung Junior duly accepted. And a few days later, the club, via their official social media platforms, responded, seemingly with well versed explanations and promises, but very little action has been done since then, something that has left the club’s fans increasingly disappointed. Three years later, Soccer Laduma, takes a closer look at what has been done since then… 1. Restore the club’s playing philosophy and status as a big club: A. Immediately build a competitive squad by recruiting quality players to restore the club back to its glory days. B. Recruit coaches that fit the playing philosophy and who identify with the brand of football fit for a big club like Kaizer Chiefs. Since 2021, Chiefs have roped in 29 players in three seasons to varied success. While some players like Ashley Du Preez, Edson Castillo and Yusuf Maart have flourished – many others like Jasond Gonzales, Mduduzi Mdantsane, Kamohelo Mahlatsi, Ranga Chivaviro and Zitha Kwinika have struggled to replicate their form shown at their previous clubs.

Chiefs have also had four different coaches in Stuart Baxter, Arthur Zwane, Molefi Ntseki and Cavin Johnson which brings their total to eight coaches in five years – none of whom have been able to lift silverware.

The club’s playing philosophy remains a mystery and all the aforementioned coaches have implemented various approaches to games, without any success.

2. We demand a squad overhaul as promised by the club in the statement of 18 April 2018. The squad overhaul must address the lack of quality and depth in the team but critically, it should also be done with the objective of refreshing the team and bring the average age down.

Parting ways with 35 players over a period of three seasons was the club’s response to a request for an overhaul. Only seven players: Itumeleng Khune, Bruce Bvuma, Karabo Molefe, Happy Mashiane, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Sabelo Radebe and Reeve Frosler remain from the 2020/21 season.

Additionally, Chiefs’ squad, at the time the memorandum was submitted, had an average age of 26.9. In the three seasons that followed, the average squad age increased to 27.1 in the 2021/22 season, decreased to 26.0 in the 2022/23 season; and increased to 26.6 in the current campaign, showing very little progress in that regard.

3. We demand a development of a vision to conquer AFRICA and consistently build a team for this purpose.

Ironically, Chiefs’ last appearance in the CAF Champions League came in 2021, when the memorandum was delivered. Since then, Amakhosi have finished in fifth place in two consecutive campaigns, which is not good enough for even the CAF Confederations Cup. Continental football looks unlikely at this point of the season as the club find themselves in seventh place after 20 matches played.

4. We demand the club to work on cultivating good relationships with the Premier Soccer League and National First Division clubs in order to achieve the points above.

If anything, Chiefs’ relationship with the Premier Soccer League has deteriorated which is largely attributed to the club’s lack of discipline, particularly that of the fans. Chiefs have had more than five run-ins with the league, including the time when they were ordered to play their match against Cape Town Spurs behind closed doors in October last year. They have also been fined over R500 000 in that period.

Of the 29 players who have been signed by Chiefs, none were from the 16 Motsepe Foundation Championship sides.

5. We demand effective utilisation of the football scouting department and for it to be empowered with resources and decision-making powers. We do not make these demands lightly and we believe that all of them are reasonable; there should always be a dialogue between the club and its supporters. We also make these demands constructively with love and peace to avoid ugly scenes last experienced at Moses Mabhida Stadium in April 2018.

Scouting, particularly for the first team, remains one of Chiefs’ Achilles heels with their rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates managing to rope in exceptional talent from both Europe and South America. Of Chiefs’ four foreign recruits over the last three seasons, only Edson Castillo has brought about a noticeable difference. Caleb Bonfils-Bimenyimana was shown the door after just one season, while Gonzales looks set to suffer the same fate. The jury is still out on Christian Saile, who has been blowing hot and cold all season. 6. Our MDC team has flattered to deceive in the past couple of seasons with minimal output until recently. There has to be a concerted effort to develop players not only for the club but for the overseas market and most importantly our MDC team should be a catalyst to building relationships with less resourced clubs. Furthermore, this will generate revenue which will ensure the

club’s sustainability into the future.

If there is one area where Chiefs have delivered on their promises, it is in the club’s development ranks. In 2022 the club’s Under-17s lifted the 2022 GDL Youth Championship, the Under-19 side were crowned the 2022 Engen Champ of Champs winners, while Chiefs Reserves were crowned Champions of the 2022 DStv Diski Shield. Chiefs have also won the Gauteng leg of the Engen Under-18 Knockout Challenge. Eight players from the club’s development were promoted to the first team in three seasons.

7. Kaizer Chiefs must play its role in the development of women’s football by forming a women’s football team to compete in the premier women’s football league as early as the 2022/23 season.

In an interview with SABC Sports last month, Jessica Motaung said Chiefs had looked at buying a share in Janine Van Wyk’s club, JVW Sports, but were unable to reach an agreement. She also highlighted the challenges that faced the club in acquiring a women’s team.

“It is very challenging to have any club, whether it is a women’s club, a men’s club or a youth club. If you look at the Hollywoodbets league, we are very proud of them, it is very good to have a league like that, there just needs to be a structural change. You have to allow clubs, I know Sundowns have also asked, to have their own sponsors’ boards and let their own sponsors advertise. There are challenges, it is not just about having a team and that’s it, you need money to fund it and to do that the sponsors need exposure. We are in discussions with SAFA, to say ‘if we have a women’s team, how can we work together to restructure (the league), so it is a win-win for teams that come in, for sponsors that come in, and for the main sponsor (Hollywoodbets)?’ So, it is collaborative. We have been talking to different teams, to look at buying into their teams, that has challenges and we want to do things properly. We did talk to JVW Sports but we didn’t agree terms. All the best to Janine Van Wyk and we hope the team continues to do well,” she told SABC.

8. We demand the chairman to account to the supporters through various media platforms. The revival of The Chairman’s Columns on the club website would be a good starting point but we also need a platform where the chairman can occasionally engage supporters in a dialogue.

Apart from the messages sent by the club’s media team on behalf of club chairman Kaizer Motaung on the passing of legends, there has been minimal communication directly from Chiefs chairman to the club’s ardent fans. Motaung did make an appearance at the club’s meet and greet in 2022 – but that is about it regarding his interaction with supporters.

9. Whilst we as supporters appreciate the great work being done by our marketing department, we would like the club to prioritise its primary business which is football. At no stage should corporate Kaizer Chiefs be more important than football.

Kaizer Chiefs have had more sponsorship renewal and acquisitions in three years than they have had trophies, which is down to the excellent work by Jessica Motaung. Massive sponsors like Medshield and Toyota were renewed, while the likes of Kappa, SuperSport Bets and even the club’s own line of Potato Chips were added – but the club’s trophy cabinet continues to gather dust.

10. The club should appoint a General Manager/CEO whose mandate should be to institutionalise accountability of all operational functions towards the board and to ensure equitable allocation of resources across all functional areas supporting the football business.

Former midfielder Gerald Sibeko has maintained his position as the club’s General Manager; however, the biggest appointment since then was that of Motaung Jr. as Amakhosi’s Sporting Director. A novice in his role, Motaung’s success as the club’s Sporting Director can be questioned. While he has opened up the club’s sizeable chequebook, many of his recruitments both on the field and behind the scenes have left a lot to be desired. Chiefs have also missed out on a number of players they were courting, seemingly owing to Motaung Jr’s business acumen – or lack thereof.

11. We demand the club to finalise the issue of supporters’ membership cards which has been outstanding for several years.

Chiefs noted that they were in the process of improving the aspect of membership cards, which had been placed on hold. Three years later the club is still improving, with very little progress for the club’s 16 million – strong following.

12. The club should always be mindful about when and how it transitions senior players out of the team who have given their best over the years. The club should honour some of these senior players and give supporters an opportunity to do the same.

In the current Chiefs setup, only Gerald Sibeko (General Manager), Jimmy Jambo (Under-15 coach) and David Mathebula (Under-19 coach) hold steady jobs within the club structures.

Others like Mandla Masango, George Lebese, Tsepo Masilela, Willard Katsande, Josta Dladla have been handed sporadic ambassadorial roles at the club’s activations for various competitions.

No end in sight…

It is safe to say, based on evidence, that Chiefs supporters’ cries have largely fell on deaf ears while the club continues to slip further and further behind their rivals Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns who have consistently added to their trophy cabinets in the wake of Chiefs’ drought. Worryingly, there is no end in sight for the club’s struggles with the club heading for a 10th straight year without silverware.