The views of Mr. Zola Mahobe on the performance of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates on the Absa Cup Competition are so grave and injurious to the good name of Kaizer Chiefs Football Club to the extent that to fail to respond to these allegations would seriously harm the brand of Kaizer Chiefs and the performance standards and ethics that the club have built over the past 35 (thirty five) years.

Mr. Mahobe alleges that both Chiefs and Pirates ‘do not perform in the Absa Cup’. Mr. Mahobe appears to hold a view that Chiefs and Pirates have a right to win any other competition notwithstanding how they perform on the field, and his view actually undermines the contribution and excellent performance of other clubs especially Super Sport United who have done more than enough to ensure that they lift the Absa Cup. It displays lack of respect for other PSL Clubs to regard them as nothing good other than playing second fiddle to Chiefs and Pirates. If anything the superiority of any dominating club is put to the test when other clubs progressively get stronger, e.g. what Super Sport did in South Africa, Chelsea did it against Manchester United and Arsenal in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Mahobe alleges that ‘neither team played past the quarterfinals’; and they have not been pitted against each other in the last 32 (thirty two) or 16 (sixteen), (albeit or fair draw). Mr. Mahobe does not seem to accept the results of a fair draw or probably a fair draw should mean Chiefs and Pirates being pitted against each other? This trend of thought is not only naïve but dangerous. Needless to say the obvious, no team is entitled to play beyond any other stage if they failed to qualify for the next stage and it is absurd to suggest Chiefs should be in the quarterfinals at all costs. It is common cause that we have not won the league for 11 (eleven) years prior to the 2003/4 season and that was not as a result of a conspiracy as other clubs fairly deserved to win the championship title. It will not surprise us if Mr. Mahobe could accuse Orlando Pirates for conspiracy in being unsuccessful, to date, to lift the trophy in the Coca Cola Cup tournaments.

Mr. Mahobe also alleges foul play or manipulation of the tournament. This allegation is defamatory as it suggests that Kaizer Chiefs may be tainted by shady corruptible practices and benefits. We reject these insinuations with contempt and these allegations constitute an unjustified and unlawful violation of the image and professionalism of Kaizer Chiefs. Our legal rights are reserved in this regard.

Mr. Mahobe continues to get himself into trouble by suggesting the involvement of Scorpions and forensic expects to investigate the financial records of Kaizer Chiefs as well as investigation of all the Absa Cup games.

Any soccer loving person will be forgiven to think that the allegations by Mr. Mahobe are deeply embedded with jealousy and at worst insanity. No self respecting club such as Kaizer Chiefs can do what Mr. Mahobe alleges and we are deeply disappointed that such violent, defamatory and baseless allegations could be published without a proper analysis being effected to ensure that they do not attract defamatory action for damages against the publisher and Mr. Mahobe. Such recklessness puts the integrity of the management of Kaizer Chiefs into disrepute. The law does not protect the Sowetan for publishing unfounded and defamatory allegations that may cause economic loss to the club.

The publisher and Mr. Mahobe have a duty to establish the substantiveness of their allegations before causing injury to the good name of the club. Such low levels of rant and rave are disruptive and they cheat on the hardwork and fairness that clubs have established.

As for ABSA, I trust that they will accept that Mr. Mahobe’s allegations are irresponsible and irrational. We trust that Standard Bank will accordingly dismiss Mr. Mahobe’s allegations as a residual of the bitterness and guilt feeling that Mr. Mahobe continues to hold against Standard Bank as the latter had obtained a fraud conviction against Mr. Mahobe in the past. No one should be held responsible for the acts and omissions of Mr. Mahobe, we wish Mr. Mahobe will realize that it is important for him to move on with his life without dragging his past and unfairly attempting to pull everyone along with him.

To Mr. Mahobe, we advise him to embrace silence rather than being malicious and unjustifiably harm the image of Kaizer Chiefs failing which he will face legal action.

KAIZER MOTAUNG 15 JUNE 2005


CHAIRMAN: KAIZER CHIEFS FOOTBALL CLUB


NATURENA