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Now 'mighty Amakhosi' hit rock bottom

THE Mighty Amakhosi, who have dominated South African soccer for more than three decades, are now uncharacteristically struggling to fill one-fifth of their new home ground - the revamped 25 000-seater Rand Stadium.

Gone are the days when every ground in every part of Mzansi was effectively Kaizer Chiefs' home ground as their enthusiastic fans would travel from all corners of the country to pack the stadiums - far outnumbering the opposition's supporters - and watch as their heroes did a demolishing job on their rivals.

By opting for Rand Stadium and not the 96000-seater Soccer City Stadium as their home ground, Chiefs have practically lowered the bar. Despite being immersed in a sea of cash as sponsors strangely trip over one another to ingratiate themselves with this once-famous brand, the club is beginning to resemble a shadow of its former self, dishing one lackadaisical performance after another.

And fans are voting with their bums - they are not putting them on the seats. The R40 entrance fee introduced at the beginning of this season is not the only contributory factor to the declining attendances; it is mainly the team's failure to distinguish itself from the rest that is driving the fans away.

As a result of these rapidly diminishing attendances - it attracted a measly 4 926 fans at one of its recent games - the club has moved its Telkom Knockout semi-final home ground clash against the marauding Santos to faraway Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo.

Asked to explain, Chiefs manager Bobby Motaung said: "I think it's because Johannesburg residents are spoilt for choice." Sorry, wrong answer, Bobby the Denialist. The correct answer is: Chiefs are no longer the team of choice here in Mzansi, finish and klaar.

Vultures on IFP's case

Talking about declining fortunes, a while ago, whenever the Inkatha Freedom Party leadership struck a match, the whole KwaZulu-Natal caught alight. The ravaging flames even spread to Gauteng and other parts of the country with devastating consequences. IFP president Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the Prince of Phindangene himself, had virtually made KwaZulu-Natal IFP country.

Anything he said was carried out to the letter by amakhosi, not the football variety but the traditional type. Many people still vividly remember how the stubborn prince swam against the tide early in 1994 and almost single-handedly derailed South Africa's first democratic elections when he threw a tantrum after feeling left out of the goings-on on the political centre stage. Only clever shrewd political manoeuvring by Tata Nelson Mandela and others saved the day.

Typically, the great chief threw another tantrum at the weekend, refusing to attend a reconciliation ceremony held at Pietermaritzburg stadium, citing his party's "unfinished business" with the Ain't Seen Nothing Yet as the reason.

In days gone by this comment would have caused a lot of consternation and discomfort. But this time around nobody took notice and the reconciliation ceremony - attended by Ain't Seen Nothing Yet and Mzansi President Jacob Zuma, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini and premier Zweli Mkhize - went ahead without a glitch. KwaZulu-Natal, if the good ole chief does not know yet, is now Ain't Seen Nothing Yet country.

No wonder the vultures are already swirling around the IFP and scribes are descending on Ulundi to begin writing the doomed party's obituary.

Email Guluva on: thatha.guluva@gmail.com

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