Kaizer Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic says the team’s fans in Johannesburg are like ‘small children’ because they can’t get to the stadiums.
|||Vladimir Vermezovic on Thursday compared Kaizer Chiefs’ Johannesburg fans to “small children,” with regard to the disappointing crowds that greet the Amakhosi in the Gauteng region.
The Chiefs coach already voiced his concern towards the end of last season about the disappointing local attendances that Chiefs have to deal with, compared to packed stadiums when they play in the likes of Polokwane and Nelspruit.
And he was at it again on Thursday, following poor turnouts for the MTN8 quarter-final against Wits and the league opener against Jomo Cosmos, both at FNB Stadium.
Chiefs face Ajax at the same venue in their MTN8 semi-final first leg on Saturday night, and it will be intriguing to see if their games here continue to be badly attended, particularly as they have just signed a deal to play at least 11 more league games at FNB Stadium this season.
“I couldn’t understand it when I came here and I was told Chiefs had played in Rustenburg in previous seasons, and never in Johannesburg. But now I realise, and I don’t want to say it’s a problem, but supporters of Chiefs in Johannesburg are like small children. They like to stay at home and watch the games,” said Vermezovic.
“We have changed our venue from Loftus to FNB Stadium, because some (fans) were complaining about transport to the venue. But now we are at one of the best venues in the world that hosted the World Cup final, and they don’t come.
“Maybe we are not playing well for them, but in Polokwane and Nelspruit we get 40000, and in Durban. I don’t know what is going on, but I hope they will come.”
The poor crowds this season certainly don’t seem to have affected the Amakhosi’s performance, with victories in both those home games, followed by a 2-0 Absa Premiership win at Moroka Swallows in Dobsonville on Wednesday night.
Vermezovic stressed the importance of continuing the winning streak against Ajax, and of not conceding a goal in the home leg of the semi-final.
“This kind of competition is in two parts and nothing will be over in the first leg. It is always most important in the first leg, especially when you are playing at home, not to concede a goal. 0-0 is better than 1-1,” he said.
“But Chiefs don’t know how to play a draw, we are going for a win. We want to improve every game. We have already played three official games and won them and we want to continue with our good run.”
Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will contest the other MTN8 semi-final, with the first leg at Orlando Stadium on Sunday. Both Sundowns coach Johan Neeskens and his counterpart, Julio Leal, seemed keen to stress disadvantages caused to their teams by the fixture scheduling.
“I am looking forward to these two games. We are playing against a good team. They proved that last year – they won three titles. So I think they are also the favourites,” said Neeskens.
“I think they also have an advantage. They are the only team of the four (semi-finalists) to have an extra days rest,” said Neeskens, referring to the fact that Pirates played Platinum Stars in the league on Tuesday night.
Leal, meanwhile, pointed to the fact that Pirates are the only one of the semi-finalists forced to travel for the Absa Premiership fixture that lies in between the two legs of the MTN8 semi. The Brazilian also, however, appeared to be seeing double.
“We are the only team among the eight (sic) that will travel,” he said.
Leal also had encouraging words for Benni McCarthy, though he would not be drawn on whether his striker would make a first start of the season against Sundowns.
McCarthy has made two appearances off the bench for Pirates thus far, scoring on his debut against Black Leopards.
“He is progressing. His performance against Platinum Stars was better than the previous one, even though he didn’t score. He helped the team more with a lot of good movement. Physically, he is getting better and better, let’s see,” said Leal.
Source: http://www.iol.co.za/vermezovic-blasts-chiefs-fans-1.1121229
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