Cavin Johnson downplays reported racial divisions in Kaizer Chiefs camp

Speaking to the media shortly after their 1-0 win over Moroka Swallows in the DStv Premiership at Dobsonville Stadium yesterday, Johnson says the SundayWorld report about the racial divisions at Chiefs is unfounded.

According to the report, the black players claim that ‘coloured’ players are treated better by the club’s management.

Johnson says they don’t have any racial tensions in their camp.

" Kaizer Chiefs being the brand they are, I think there are a lot of people that look to take this bring this big brand to a lower level because in reality there's no brand that's as strong as this brand,” Johnson said.

“So, whatever you can find, whatever you can do to try and discredit them, it's always in the papers and I think it's not only now, it's been for a good few years. Myself being born in a country where it was black and white, I know how to handle those things.

“So, when it comes to those things it's like water on a duck’s back for me because if you were born when the rainbow was black and white and now it's colourful, then you know how to handle those. So, we don't have any problems within our village of that sort of nature."

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These allegations and disciplinary problems at the club come at a time when Chiefs are struggling to turn things around and bring success to the club, now going to a ninth year without silverware.

They are already on their second coach this season, and their chances for the league title, are very slim. 

Johnson would have better been focusing on results than answering questions about matters off the field, but with a coaching career of more than three decades, he knows that this comes with the territory.

" For me, yes I've had those issues at other clubs. It's an African thing that we have to be able to manage and sometimes you have a lot of people who are able to manage it correctly and then you get it right. Sometimes you don't have enough people to manage it and you get it wrong because you may be a dictator. You're not a leader, things like that,” Johnson added.

“So, you gotta see when you gonna touch and where you're not gonna touch and who touches what and what you touch. I've actually not mastered that but like I say I come from the rainbow where it was black and white and when you come from worse then you're able to manoeuvre all those things."