It’s been over 56 hours since Kaizer Chiefs let the league title slip away. Yet, the club with the biggest supporter base in the country remain silent on their social-media accounts, not offering their fans or the media any comment, after having also missed post-match media engagements. Chiefs fans deserve better, writes DEAN WORKMAN.
If there’s one team in the country that plays a home game almost every game, it is Kaizer Chiefs.
Amakhosi have amassed a passionate following across South Africa and indeed the continent. In a sport and country which face constant struggles to attract fans to the stadium, Chiefs supporters always turn up.
This die-hard following has been through a lot over the past few years as the club have endured its longest-ever trophy drought of five years.
There was the Steve Komphela reign which promised much but never delivered, which was followed by a disastrous spell under Giovanni Solinas.
Ernst Middendorp came in to steady the ship and almost ended the trophy drought when Chiefs qualified for 2018-19 Nedbank Cup final. However, there was more heartbreak as Chiefs became the first side to lose to a first-division side in a cup final as TS Galaxy snatched the crown with a 1-0 win.
Middendorp and Chiefs, though, picked themselves up and started the 2019-20 season with renewed vigour and determination to fly to the top of the Absa Premiership standings.
Amakhosi then led the league almost throughout the campaign and, even with the Covid-19 interruptions, many fans and media saw the 2019-20 season ending in glory for the Soweto giants.
However, it wasn’t meant to be as Sundowns managed to overturn the gap and edge Chiefs to the title on the final day.
This is football and heartbreak happens, quite regularly in fact. It may hurt but if you owe anything to anyone, it is the people who have invested their time, money and passion in the team – the fans.
Chiefs have not tweeted once since posting the final score of the game against Baroka.
Full time score: (Kambala 59’) Baroka FC 1 : 1 Kaizer Chiefs (Billiat 39’)#AbuyileAmakhosi #AbsaPrem #KaizerChiefs50 pic.twitter.com/bEY9AtuvxU
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) September 5, 2020
The Soweto giants also failed to provide the media with any post-match engagements, which are mandatory as per the NSL handbook.
Still no reaction from the Chiefs camp after Saturday’s events. Very sad from such a big club that even the mandatory post match media engagements were snubbed.
— Chad Kelly-Klate (@CKlatey) September 7, 2020
Chad, which mandatory media engagements did the club snub after Saturday’s events?
And what reaction are you looking for on twitter?— Jabulani Mbanjani (@JeegaJo) September 7, 2020
I’m actually not aware of what you’re tweeting about. Are you saying the away team was responsible for setting up the media bringing of a match they are not responsible for?
You are entitled to your opinion and it can’t be argued but facts and the truth matter.
— Jabulani Mbanjani (@JeegaJo) September 7, 2020
According to my knowledge, the club told to the PSL that they will have a Zoom engagement at the hotel on Saturday, but that was not honoured.
— Chad Kelly-Klate (@CKlatey) September 7, 2020
Post match engagements are mandatory as per NSL handbook. The argument of home/away team is flawed because of the Covid environment. The use of Zoom doesn’t require the home team’s facilities. But my view is that the fans, who deserve better, have been denied any sort of reaction
— Chad Kelly-Klate (@CKlatey) September 7, 2020
A Chiefs media officer, in his personal capacity, suggested that Chiefs as the away team were not responsible for the post-match media engagements, but in the post-Covid world those normal regulations have become less applicable due to the nature of Zoom media conferences or content sent via the PSL media channels.
Regardless of who was responsible for organising the post-match reactions, Chiefs owe their supporters after throwing away such a massive lead at the top of the table.
A ‘We’re sorry’, ‘We are also hurting’, ‘We will get them next season’. Something, anything really, would help just to let fans feel part of the club even if it’s during this painful time.
Chiefs could face sanctions from the league for not attending post-match engagements as it has been reported to the PSL and a statement is awaited.
At the end of the day, Chiefs fans deserve better from the club they love …
