Kaizer Chiefs revealed in a statement on Friday that the club will look to bolster the technical team, the playing personnel and the football department after an ‘unacceptable’ campaign.
Amakhosi endured a torrid 2018-19 campaign which saw them extend their trophy drought to four seasons after their failure to beat NFD side TS Galaxy in the Nedbank Cup final.
Chiefs also struggled in the league as a winless run of seven games to end the season saw them finish ninth on the Absa Premiership log, the first time they haven’t finished in the top eight for 12 years.
Upon the conclusion of the season, the club have subsequently been facing a backlash from supporters, with coach Ernst Middendorp and football manager Bobby Motaung singled out by the Amakhosi faithful for their failure to produce a winning team.
Chiefs’ management has since had time to reflect on their campaign and to begin preparations for the next season. They have now decided to reveal the type of changes that they will be looking to implement, in an open statement to their fans released on Friday.
The club statement reads:
‘This past season has been an unacceptable one in which we have fallen well short of the standards we set for ourselves.
‘We have let ourselves down and we know we have bitterly disappointed and failed to meet the expectations of our supporters and stakeholders.
‘It has been four barren seasons now, and as Kaizer Chiefs management we will do all we possibly can to remedy the situation and to act decisively.
‘We are using this off-season to implement the changes and to map the way forward with a new approach for next season, based on the lessons learnt.
‘The rebuilding process for the 2019-20 season is already under way, and all the necessary actions will be taken to ensure we restore this iconic institution to where it rightfully belongs – at the summit of South African football.
‘We are bolstering the technical team, the playing personnel and strengthening the football department in preparation for the new season.
‘The club has recently gone through some restructuring and have appointed new members to the board of directors. The board will play a critical role in our way forward.
‘We thank all our supporters for your continued love and passion through good and difficult times. Fuelled by this support, we will use this time to reflect and go back to the spirit, ethos and legacy on which the club was founded, and ensure we again play a leadership role in the football world, on and off the pitch.’
