Kaizer Chiefs interim coach Cavin Johnson has responded to allegations about misconduct of skipper Itumeleng Khune and racial tension at Naturena village.
Amakhosi claimed bragging rights in Saturday’s Soweto Derby at in-form Moroka Swallows to move to sixth place on the log, but Johnson was asked to address recent media reports after the match.
On Saturday, a report by Farpost emerged that Khune had been sent home after arriving under the influence of alcohol to training and will face disciplinary actions, while the official line from Chiefs was that he was absent due to injury.
On Sunday, another report by Sunday World spoke about “racial turmoil” at Naturena, with Johnson playing down those headlines after the match.
“Kaizer Chiefs, being the big brand they are, I think there are a lot of people trying to take the brand to a lower level,” he said.
“In reality there is no brand that is strong as this brand. Whatever you can find, whatever you can do to discredit them is always in the papers.
“I think it’s not only now, it’s been for a good few years.
“Myself, being born in a country with black and white, I know how to handle these things.
“When it comes to those things it’s like water on a ducks back for me, because if you’re born in the era of black and white and now there is colour, then you know how to handle those things.
“We deals with those things properly in our village, of that sort of nature with the players. You can see on the pitch that they wan to do it for each other.
“I lead the team and when you look at the back of me, when you look at the people on the side of me then you can see it’s what we’ve been pressing for, is the three points.”
