STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION IS KEY IN FOOTBALL

In all the South African teams in the premier soccer league (PSL) Kaizer Chiefs is one team that stands out when coming to their communication with all of its fans. And this is all thanks to the hard work of Chiefs Marketing manager; Jessica Motaung.

THE LADY BEHIND THE COMMUNICATION SUCCESS OF KAIZER CHIEFS

Kaizer Chiefs marketing manager; Jessica Motaung

The way that Jessica managed the recent Kaizer Chiefs C.E.O Bobby Motaung's media incident, proved that good communication and marketing is necessary in football and in promoting the brand of the team. After kaizer chiefs recieved bad publicity its fan base declined to about 4000 fans and its merchandise sales dropped by 5%. At this point people were not associating themselves with the kaizer chiefs brand as before.

Jessica Moutang and the Kaizer chiefs' communications team had to work hard in re-positioning Kaizer chiefs to its supporters.

It is through strategic communications that the team managed to survive the attack from the media.Below are various ways that the Kaizer Chiefs' communications team along with marketing manager Jessica Motaung used in seNding the correct message about kaizer chiefs :

• Multitudes of interviews on print and radio
• Roadshows around the province promoting the brand
• Using social sites, such as facebook and twitter to communicate a positive message to fans
• Giving away of tickets to Kaizer chiefs matches
• sending out its players to communicate with fans and gain their trust back while promoting the brand

It was through these efforts in communication that Kaizer chiefs were able to re-position themselves as a brand and clean the image of the team.

It is through such activities that teams in the PSL can be in good relations with their fans. Most teams in the PSL do not take their communications seriously, the focus is more on the game than on the communication. Communications in football is key and it is through communications that teams can attract a wider base of fans.

THE CHASE IS ON

With the start of the new Premier soccer league (PSL) season, the mighty amakhosi (Kaizer Chiefs) have gotten off to a good start toping the league after a well fought win over Black Leopards.
After a lot of criticism from fans and South African soccer critics last season, Kaizer Chiefs have shown great improvement in working as an entity to produce the desired results.

KHUNE HUNGRY FOR SILVERWARE 

Kaizer Chiefs wonder boy, Itumelng Khune wordpress.integrat.co.za

Kaizer goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune is confident that the glamour boys will bring home silverware this season as they failed to deliver last season. Itumeleng Khune expressed his hunger to fill the Kaizer Chiefs trophy cabinet when he told football 411 that he knows that the past season was bad for the team and he promised that the team will go all out for the fans, this season. The team was not in good relations with its fans last season, due to the number of losses it suffered in the PSL. It is going to take a lot to regain the trust of fans out there.

PSL TOP 5 TEAMS AFTER  FIRST FOUR GAMES

1. Kaizer Chiefs
2. Maritzburg United
3. Free State Stars
4. University of Pretoria
5. Orlando Pirates

As much as the glamour boys are on form, my concern however is whether they can maintain this and win the league or is it just a good start that will result in a bad ending as in the previous season. Does Kaizer Chiefs have what it takes to bring silverware home especially with the bad publicity sorrounding the team at the moment.

A CRY FOR FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT IN S.A

The development of football in South Africa has for years now being non-existent, South Africa is one of the underperforming countries in the world  when coming to the development of world class players. Although we find big teams such as; Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer chiefs and Orlando Pirates running football academies, yet the is still no success in the development sector of South African football.
I find myself wih a question of who is to blame? do we as fans blame it on the South African Football Association(SAFA), our local teams or our local talent scouts.

I personally think that the development of football in South Africa leaves much to be desired. The training
of football administraters, coaches and assistants at the development level of football in South Africa are not being given much attention. It is known by every football fan out there, that the future of a nations football lay in its youth and it is critical for young footballers to be groomed in to stars. FIFA confirmed that there is more than a hundred South african football players who are based in both the United States and England and are doing well in their teams. The sad fact is that these players were not developed in South Africa. These players include;

• Norwich city midlefieldder Andrew Surman
• Peterborough's young left back Kgosi Ntlhe
•  Malaga's goalkeeper Darren Klee

THE AARON MOKOENA FOUNDATION, ONE OF A FEW ACADEMIES TRYING TO DEVELOP FOOTBALL IN SOUTH AFRICA 

Aaron Mokoena, founder of the Aaron Mokoena foundation aaronmokoenafoundation.com

Maybe through the efforts of Aaron Mokoena and other development academies in South Africa, attention will be given to the future of football in South Africa. According to Jimmy Gilligan, head scout of nike UK academy, South African football could be phenomenal if only they could put more work into their development.