Kaizer Chiefs will take on Royal AM in a DStv Premiership encounter at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday. Image: Kaizer Chiefs website
Cavin Johnson’s false dawn with Kaizer Chiefs
Wins at the back-end of 2023 only papered over some seriously big cracks.
Kaizer Chiefs will take on Royal AM in a DStv Premiership encounter at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday. Image: Kaizer Chiefs website
Cavin Johnson started life relatively well as the interim Kaizer Chiefs boss. However, 2024 has started poorly.
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Johnson steadied the ship in his first few months
Cavin Johnson was brought in to replace Molefi Ntseki after the former Bafana Bafana boss found his position at the club untenable. Chiefs had just been dumped out of the Telkom Knockout by AmaZulu. That result, unfortunately, incited fan violence and hostility. Johnson lost two of his first three games at the helm, against Golden Arrows and Pirates, but then went on a winning run against Swallows, Polokwane and Richards Bay. A 1-1 draw with Sekhukhune meant the Glamour Boys ended 2023 on a strong note. The club even announced its intention to keep Johnson as permanent boss until the end of the campaign, which wasn’t in the script initially.
FIXTURES: Up next for a wounded Kaizer Chiefs is the Soweto Derby!
Kaizer Chiefs still look toothless
Since returning from the Afcon break, however, Amakhosi have drawn blanks against Royal AM in the league and, embarrassingly, against Milford in their penalty shootout defeat in the Nedbank Cup. The Motsepe Foundation Championship side was also reduced to 10 men as early as the 11th minute. Another trophyless season beckons and qualification for the CAF Champions League through league position also seems fanciful. All the goodwill in the bank for Johnson seems to be eroding by the day. Up next for Amakhosi is a Soweto Derby against Swallows. If they can complete the league double over the Dube Birds, the noise would go away, for a week at least.
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Meanwhile, hit up James Freemantle for more insights, analysis and love for the beautiful game.
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