Cavin Johnson responds to reports of racism, alcohol abuse at Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs interim coach Cavin Johnson has responded to serious allegations of race issues, alcohol abuse and a lack of discipline among players at the club.

Chiefs were rocked by damning media reports ahead of their Premiership match against Moroka Swallows on Sunday, which Amakhosi won 1-0 at Dobsonville Stadium.

Sunday World reported that Itumeleng Khune and Mduduzi Mdantsane allegedly arrived at training under the influence of alcohol. It also reported allegations of racism and favouring of coloured players at the club.

Khune is reported to be in trouble too for refusing to do interviews during club owner and chair Kaizer Motaung’s induction into the SA Hall of Fame.

Johnson downplayed the allegations, saying people are trying to discredit the Chiefs brand and claimed there are no such issues at the club.

“We read it all the time. Kaizer Chiefs, being the brand they are, I think there’s a lot of people who look to bring this big brand to a lower level. Because in reality there’s no brand as strong as this brand,” Johnson said.

“Whatever you can find and whatever you can do to try to discredit them is always in the papers.

“It’s not only now. It has been for a good few years, you know what I’m saying? For myself, being born in a country where it was black and white, I know how to handle those things [issues of racism].

“When it comes to those things [controversial reports] it’s like water off a duck’s back for me because if you were born and the rainbow was black and white, and now it is colourful, you know how to handle those things.

“We don’t have any problems within 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,” Johnson said.

Khune and Mdantsane were not part of the match-day squad against Swallows. Third-choice goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma played his first match of the season and helped to keep a rare clean sheet for Amakhosi.