FANS NEED TO BE CALLED TO ORDER

For some time now there have being complaints about the behaviour of South African football fans during mattches, expecially during high profile matches including the likes of; Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows and Mamelodi Sundowns games.

South African football fans turn to get too emotional at stadiums and behave in an unorderly manner. Just four days ago Mamelodi Sundowns fans, forced their way through Security and were able to physically assault Mamellodi Sundowns coach  after what they saw as an unnecessary loss against Moroka Swallows. It took individuals from the SAPS to stop this brutal attack.

                                          

Mamelodi Sundows coach assaulted

     

Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Johan Neeskens brutally attacked (sowetanlive.co.za)

Such behaviour brings me to a question of whether or not fans respect the beautiful game and further more this behaviuor communicates a bad message to the entire footballing nation about how South African fans are and the images of these unpleasant encounters are viewed across the globe and they are doing more harm than good, as they are denting the image of South African football.

Kaizer Chiefs captain Itumelang Khune and striker Bernard Parker, went on Robert Marawas show expressing their views on the uncalled for behaviour of South African fans. Among others they were more concerned about frans booing them during games, stating that such behaviour demoralizes players and the end result of that is them not perfoming to the best of their abilities.

uncalled for behaviour of fans brings down the standard of South African football in the following ways :

• ommunicates the wrong message of what is seen as normal in South African football
• It makes it hard for football players to play the beautiful game in peace
• It dipicts a negative image about South African football to players who might have an interest in playing in South Africa



Angry sundowns fans after 2-0 loss to Swallows

Angry Sundowns fans ready to go to war (teamkickoff.com)

                                              

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.

WILL IGESUND TURN THINGS AROUND

It is no secret that the South African national football team has being struggling and all eyes are on the new Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund to try and turn things around for the better.

Gordon and the Bafana Bafana boys are faced with a tough task ahead of them as they are scheduled to take part in two international friendly matches. They will take on Mozambique on 11 September at the Mbombela stadium, in what to me seems as a practise match as they prepare to take on their toughest challenge thus far as they will go head to head with former FIFA world cup champions, Brazil in their last friendly match which will take place in Sao Paolo.

All eyes are on the Brazil friendly as this will be a tough challenge for both the coach and the players, as Brazil has being in top form lately. My concern is whether or not the Bafana Bafana squad is ready for such a task and whether Gordon Igesund can handle such a tough  task.
At this point I do not think that Bafana stand a chance against the Brazilians.

WILL HE GET THE JOB DONE

Newly appointed Bafana head coach,Gordon Igesund (sundayworld.co.za)

There are a couple of challenges I think Gordon will face as head coach, challenges such as:

• The media is forever attacking the South Aafrican national football team and this might make it hard for him to do his job
• People have lost hope in the national team, Gordon will have to convince fans that the national team is worth supporting
• He is working under pressure as his contract will be terminated if he does not make it to the Afcon semi-finals

TROUBLE IN PARADISE

Kaizer Chiefs boss Bobby Motaung was arrested by the hawks on charges of fraud. The powerful footbal boss was arrested in connection with a multi-million rand fraud case, relating to the building of the Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit in 2010football411.com

Motaung appeared in court on Thursday and was granted a R50.000 bail, this did not sit well with football fans as they were outside the court room protesting and accusing Bobby of the death of Jimmy Mahlala a former Mbombela municipal speaker.

KAIZER CHIEFS' BOBBY

Bobby Motaung, Kaizer chiefs boss(supersport.com)

Kaizer chiefs released a statement saying that the club had no knowledge of Bobbys involvement in the building of the Mbombela stadium and that this is a personal matter and the team will not be involved in any way as this does not affect the team in any way.

As much as the club feels that this is a personal matter that wont have an effect on the team, I feel that this whole Bobby scandal will affect the team in the following way:

• The clubs image will be damaged as Bobby is the face of  kaizer chiefs and anything he does goes back to the team
• Such bad publicity is not good for the team
• Kaizer chiefs is a brand and it gets affected if any of its members get bad publicity expecially the ones in the public eye
• Fans might start questioning the entire senior management of Kaizer Chiefs

Fraud in football seem to have become a serious problem, and if Bobby is to be acquitted of the fraud charges and reinstated as Kaizer Chiefs C.E.O, Kaizer Chiefs might loose some fans and people might see kaizer chiefs as an organisatiion that welcomes fraud.

WILL ROBIN SIGN ON THE DOTED LINE

With only a week left before the new season kicks off, the Dutch born striker Robin Van Persie has yet to decide which team to sign up with.

Robin Van Persie at Arsenal

The former Arsenal player is still club-less at the moment, with only three weeks left before the transfer window closes the seem to be only one team left in the hunt for this talented football player, this is after Manchester City and Juventers failed to meet the financial requirements of the Dutch international. According to the Manchester evening news , Manchester united is moving closer to sealing the deal with Van Persie.
Even Manchester United's most lethal striker Wayne Rooney has outlined his hopes that he may soon be playing alongside Van Persie, when he told the Manchester news that Dutchman would be a great addition to the Red Devils(Manchester United) squad.

My main concern however is whether the Dutch international will be able to adapt to uniteds style of play and whether Manchester United can afford the services of the Dutchman, seeing that the team is already in debt, is this truly a good move on the part of United financially?. Van Persie rejected Arsenals offer to renew his contract with weekly wages of 130.000 euros a week and a 5 million signing bonus, with the believe that he can get twice the amount if he were to sign with a different team. Wayne Rooney earns 220.000 euros in weekly wages and that is the amount that Van Persie is looking to get or more. Is Robin Van Persie worth
  220.000 euros a week though?

 WHAT A DEADLY COMBINATION THIS COULD BE

From left: Arsenals Van Persie and United's Wayne Rooney