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Zwane takes Chiefs fans’ protest on the chin, knows their frustration
“But when you are in a phase that we are in right now, you will always have those hiccups and challenges here and there," says the Amakhosi mentor.
Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane during the DStv Premiership match against SuperSport United at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on May 13. Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane has spoken for the first time since the club supporters turned violent against him and demanded that he vacate his position.
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Supporters at Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace threw missiles at Zwane after Chiefs had lost 1-0 to SuperSport United.
They felt Zwane was not taking the team anywhere as the loss meant the team would not qualify for Caf competitions next season.
The mentor was escorted out of the field by police but got injured in the process. It has since been clarified that it was a freak accident with one of the officers who were escorting him.
Zwane says he understands the frustration of the supporters and knows what needs to happen for the situation to improve.
“I have seen them supporting the team through thick and thin,” said Zwane on Thursday speaking to the club’s media department.
It was the first time since Saturday’s incident that Zwane made a public statement on the issue. It has given rise to speculation about his future in the team.
“I have seen them supporting the team, even when things were not going our way. I know how they want things to improve in the squad.
“We are also worried about the situation because we thought we could make the situation better – far better.
Zwane remains optimistic
“But when you are in a phase that we are in right now, you will always have those hiccups and challenges here and there.
“But they are always in our thoughts, we always want to make them happy. And the time will come when they will be happy.”
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Zwane promises that the supporters will soon forget the misery they are going through when he has got things right.
“When they are happy and smiling like other supporters, they will forget about days like these,” said the Amakhosi mentor.
Chiefs will play their last game against Cape Town City at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
If they lose – which would be a fourth in a row – they will fall down to fifth place in the DStv Premiership log table.
