“Supporters must visit the Kaizer Chiefs website regularly to keep updated with the latest Club news,” Amakhosi Supporters Relationship Manager Tracy Williams stresses while talking about membership updates with twelve Chiefs Branches from the Sedibeng region on Sunday. “We use this channel as the important point of contact as well our monthly Amakhosi Magazine.”

The meeting was hosted by the Lakeside Branch. According to the supporters branch constitution, whenever Amakhosi fans meet, they do so in the name of the Chairman. Hence, Williams’ address started off with a brief outline of Kaizer Motaung’s legacy and an insight into this great man.

She borrowed words from the speech Chiefs’ Marketing Director Jessica Motaung recently delivered upon accepting Discovery’s Life Time Achievement award for the Amakhosi Chairman.

One of the sentences read aloud was the following: “Kaizer Motaung is an iconic visionary, an inspired leader, an empowering Chairman, a demanding boss, an astute businessman, a solid role model, a true friend, a loving husband, an amazing father and a devoted grandfather. He is a man that inspired greatness but yet remains a truly humble man”.

The Supporters Relationship Manager also spoke about the 2014/2015 theme of ‘Inspiring Greatness’ and how this needs to be applied to every aspect of our lives. Williams appealed to supporters “to remain positive as the last stage of the season is going to be tough and we cannot surrender to negativity – when the going gets tough, true supporters show their colours!”

She spoke as well about the importance of attending home games and supporting Kaizer Chiefs initiatives such as Kaizer Chiefs Mobile, Kaizer Chiefs Insurance and wearing only authentic apparel. Other topics discussed were stadium behaviour, the booing of players, the role of branches and how importance it is for branches to support their regional structures.

“Branches must use their regional structures to help them grow, for guidance and support and for problem resolution,” reiterated Williams.

She also spoke at length about connecting to the Club using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the Kaizer Chiefs Mobile platform.

The following twelve branches were present: Lakeside Estate, Bophelong, Boipatong, Drieziek, Lenasia, Tshepong, Tshepiso, Orange Farm, Poortjie, Evaton, Small Farm and hosts Lakeside.

Of course, the new supporters club membership card was also discussed. “It’s a process and there is still a long way to go before we can confirm a launch date,” admitted Tracy Williams. “After hosting two intensive workshops with branches in November and December, it is clear that there remains a lot of work still to be done.”

The new Amakhosi supporters club card is going to be much more than just a change of picture. Supporters can look forward to a new card, new benefits, new functionality, new tiers and even a new distribution plan.

Williams concluded by saying that branches are going to play a critical role in the rejuvenated supporters club. We therefore cannot launch until we have got our house in order in terms of branch structures.

“The Sedibeng region is a good example of an organised regional structure,” Williams remarked. “They have a robust executive team that have come up with some really innovative ideas such as a youth portfolio, a leadership induction programme and they even have a strategic advisor.”

She also confirmed that the main role of the structure is “to serve the very branches that elected them. Regional structures are not about power, but rather about engagement, communication, support and mentorship.”

Besides that, the regional structures are there to care that the branches growth and development as well as ensure that the branches comply with good governance principles. Williams added: “Structures need to be inclusive and accessible to all supporters.”

The Club will announce a launch date for the new supporters club card when the various elements are ready and tested.

“We have one chance to get it right,” concluded Williams. “That’s why we will only launch when we have a Supporters Club that can truly be proud of the new programme #INSPIRES GREATNESS!”

“Today I was truly inspired by some amazing people,” Amakhosi’s Supporters Relationship Manager reflected on a productive day.