Bobby's rant has the faithful in a rage

'Taugate' damage control only fans the flames

MOUNT Naturena, aka Sirte, this week resembled a mini Libya sans assault rifles fired in the air - but verbal volleys inflicted painful injuries on the Kaizer Chiefs fans.

That the hostile fire came not from a foe but a perceived heir to King Kaizer Motaung made the supporters' pain even more unbearable. On the rampage was Bobby Motaung, coming across as uncouth in a tongue-lashing aimed at quashing a perceived palace revolt in King Kaizer's kingdom.

Team manager Motaung and coach Vladimir Vermezovic have been likened to murdered Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for their mishandling of Taugate - which this week saw Jimmy Tau stripped of the captaincy in favour of a committee of captains, whatever that means. Both protested profusely, so for the purposes of this column, we'll just call them Boddafi and Vladdafi.

During a damage-control exercise on Wednesday aimed at painting a picture of harmony, the duo only added fuel to the fire. Before we continue, context is crucial. The strains and stresses at Chiefs spilled into the public domain in Polokwane - let's call it Misrata to keep with the Libyan theme - where Amakhosi were ambushed 2-1 by Arrows. The senior players refused to take a penalty that never was, awarded by blind mouse Robert Sithole when Thanduyise Khuboni used his chest to clear the ball.

Tau was aggrieved by an unfair attack on his leadership by Vladdafi, seemingly for allowing the senior players to shirk responsibility by allowing George Lebese to take and miss the penalty, which, after all, was poetic justice. The incident caused such tension between Tau and Vladdafi that the uninjured, unsuspended and on-form player was dropped for the Black Leopards game and subsequently stripped of the captaincy.

Back to the Wednesday conference, where big, bad Boddafi made a mess of things, mouthing off with abandon. Telling us Chiefs was his father's club was retardedness at its worst. Only a madman utters something so self-explanatory. Surely the name Kaizer Chiefs says it all?

Responding to calls for him to resign as team manager, Boddafi said he was not voted in by the ANC.

Dismissing his detractors as dreamers can only further alienate the few sympathisers he may still have.

In his ill-informed rant, Boddafi inadvertently admitted his fitness for the job was not tested because it was his birthright to be at Chiefs. It is his father's club. A family business.

What a cocky, cheeky little Chief. His gift of the gibberish left millions of Amakhosi faithful aghast.

And then, in explaining the appointment of Itumeleng Khune as captain, assisted by the committee of George Lebese, Kaizer Motaung Jnr, Tenashe Nengomasha and Tlou Molekwane, Vladdafi told the nation Tau "was too nice" to be skipper.

That it took three years for the penny to drop says a lot more about the beleaguered coach from the Balkans than Tau.

Seething with anger after the press conference, the supporters have described Boddafi and Vladdafi as a disruptive force.

Displeasing as the developments were, Motaung senior detached himself from the situation with a dignified silence.

But Boddafi has crossed the line. His arrogance is spiraling out of control. His showing the finger to fans is reaching unprecedented heights.

Not only are his tactless tantrums hurtful, they are disrespectful to the lifeblood of Chiefs, the loyal fans.

His abrasive, pig-headed attitude is typical of tinpot despots.

Thank God King Kaizer knows his empire was built on the sweat and blood of those masses. That's why, sober, humble son of the soil that he is, he felt it proper to apologise to the people who made him what he is today.

When Julius Malema misbehaved, the ANC sent him to political school. Kaizer must send Boddafi to the stands, where the fans can school him in humility.