Big bust-up at Chiefs

Jimmy Tau has quit as captain of Kaizer Chiefs - for as long as Vladimir Vermezovic remains the club's coach.

The Times has reliably learnt that Tau, who joined Chiefs from Orlando Pirates in 2005, sent an e-mail to the Amakhosi management yesterday notifying them that he no longer wanted to captain the team.

The e-mail was sent in the emotional aftermath of a shock 2-1 defeat of Chiefs by Golden Arrows on Wednesday night in the Absa Premiership.

It is expected that the Chiefs management will try to persuade Tau to withdraw the resignation, but there was no official comment yesterday.

Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung said he was surprised to hear of Tau's resignation.

"I am still on my way back from Polokwane and haven't been to the office. I cannot comment on something I have not seen."

He said he could not refer The Times to anyone in the Chiefs management who could make an official comment.

Tau's resignation came barely 24 hours after Chiefs' defeat at the Peter Mokaba stadium - a home venue for the Amakhosi.

It was their second defeat of the season after just seven league matches, leaving them fourth on the log.

Tau, who took over from Cyril Nzama as Chiefs captain in 2008, is understood to have received a tongue-lashing from Vermezovic in the dressing-room after the defeat.

According to a source, Vermezovic ridiculed Tau in front of the rest of the Chiefs players, telling the former Bafana right back he was "not a good leader, and fails to reprimand his fellow players".

Tau, who also captained Pirates before moving to Amakhosi, is said to have been hurt by the coach's comments and told the club's management he does not wish to wear the captain's armband any longer.

Vermezovic was also upset that his senior players had shirked the responsibility of taking a late penalty. Instead, the kick was given to 22-year-old George Lebese, who missed a goal that could have earned Chiefs a draw.

The coach said he had expected Siphiwe Tshabalala to take the penalty.

"I never thought I would see a Kaizer Chiefs team play and lose they way we did," Vermezovic said after the game.

"Lebese was the youngest guy on the pitch, but at least he had the guts to take the penalty. The senior players were afraid. I will talk to my players about their attitude."

The coach has also taken a new approach to the 2011/12 season, issuing fines for late arrivals at training and introducing a curfew.

After Chiefs' recent victory over Pirates in a league match, Vermezovic said: "We used the money from the fines to take the players out so they could relax and unwind before the Pirates match. I think it worked because we won."