Amidst a whirlwind of reports alleging racial turmoil within the Kaizer Chiefs camp and disciplinary action against star goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, interim coach Cavin Johnson stepped forward to address the mounting concerns.
In a press conference after Chiefs’ 1-0 win over Moroka Swallows in DStv Premiership clash on Sunday at Dobsonville Stadium, Johnson dismissed rumours of racial discord.
Reports emerged that there is racism at Naturena amongst black and coloured players with coloureds said to be getting better treatment than black people.
But Johnson is convinced that there are people out here whose mission is to discredit and Chiefs down after reports also came out that Khune was drinking alcohol on duty. Itumeleng Khune, who reportedly set to face disciplinary action, was not part of the Amakhosi match day squad against Swallows.
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“Kaizer Chiefs, being the big brand they are, I think there are a lot of people trying to take the brand to a lower level,” said Johnson. “In reality there is no brand that is strong as this brand. Whatever you can find, whatever you can do to discredit them is always in the newspapers.
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“I think it’s not only now, it’s been for a good few years. Myself, being born in a country with black and white, I know how to handle these things.
“When it comes to those things it’s like water on a ducks back for me, because if you’re born in the era of black and white and now there is colour, then you know how to handle those things.
“We deals with those things properly in our village, of that sort of nature with the players. You can see on the pitch that they want to do it for each other.
“I lead the team and when you look at the back of me, when you look at the people on the side of me then you can see it’s what we’ve been pressing for, is the three points.”