Kaizer junior shows he is his own man

Kaizer Chiefs fans can't seem to make up their minds about the club chairman's son.

One minute they love Kaizer Motaung Junior, only to hate him the next.

Their mood also fluctuates with the Amakhosi's performances, sparking this ambivalent relationship between the fans and the striker.

The player has often been seen as a liability after almost eight years with the club.

But, this week, Motaung Jnr said he would always "love" the Chiefs supporters and always understood why he had been the target of the boo boys in the past.

He joined his father's team in 2003 after spending two years in Germany trying to make a name for himself in the Bundesliga's second division with 1860 Munich.

However, the forward struggled to make the first-team line-up at Chiefs until the 2006-07 season, where he finished as Amakhosi's top scorer with 12 goals under then coach Ernst Middendorp.

Motaung Jnr has seen coaches come and go at Chiefs, but injuries often cut his season short.

He has won two Premier League titles with Chiefs, but has been criticised for playing a minor part in that success.

Motaung Jnr was also linked with Amazulu in 2009, a move that was blocked by his father, Kaizer Motaung.

Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic has, on numerous occasions, hit back at the club's supporters for not only booing Motaung Jnr, but also S'thembiso Ngcobo, who was the team's only acquisition at the start of last season.

"I have always understood their [the fans'] frustration where my performance is concerned. It stings a little bit when they boo me, but it's because of my situation as the chairman's son. They always want the best for the team and I can understand that," said Motaung Jnr.

"My job is to score goals, that is what I get paid to do. The fans boo to voice their opinion when I don't do the job. I will always love them."

On January 19 against top club Mamelodi Sundowns, Motaung Jnr proved that he no longer owed his place in the Chiefs team to daddy, scoring the winning goal in a Premier League clash at Soccer City.

The former Baby Bafana international, 29, also went on to score five goals in four matches to show he was now his own man.

That great run also won him favour among the hard-to-please Amakhosi fans. However, injuries soon put paid to that.

In 11 matches, Motaung Jnr scored six goals last season.

"What happens on the field is what talks and it's unfortunate that I got injured before scoring more goals. I hope to stay injury-free next season and step up my performance for the team. The fans remain our biggest influence and I hope to put a smile on their faces."

Motaung Jnr, who has been seen crying when Chiefs are beaten in decisive matches, said his desire to win a third premiership title with the Amakhosi was top of his list in the new season.

"Every time I put my Chiefs shirt on it counts and it's emotional. I will be shedding tears in the new season for sure. But hopefully they will be tears of joy this time around," Motaung Jnr said.