“Engaging with Kaizer Chiefs branches on various levels is critical. The supporters are the lifeline of our Brand,” Amakhosi Marketing Director Jessica Motaung stressed in her opening remarks to 30 branch representatives, who visited Chiefs Village this weekend for a workshop.

“We acknowledge their importance,” added Motaung. “Our supporters are part of the Kaizer Chiefs family and we are committed to serving their needs.”

The two-day meeting aimed at considering, interrogating and analysing the existing Kaizer Chiefs Branch structures. A proposed new dispensation was extensively discussed as well as the new Amakhosi Supporters Club.

“Times are changing,” Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung observed when he paid a surprise visit to the workshop on Saturday afternoon. “As a result, we need to change the way we are doing things in order to keep up with the new realities. This includes the Supporters Branches. It’s like the game of football – it has evolved to such an extent that coaches have ‘finger-tip’ access to information about the opponent’s players, which they use to develop their game plan. We need the same strategic approach for our supporters – we need a game plan for our Branches.”

The representatives from the various Branches left Chiefs Village fully motivated and with renewed energy on Sunday afternoon.

“I have learnt so much in these two days,” Botshabelo Branch Chairman Ngwako Palo reflected. “I can’t wait to get back to my branch and start applying some of the ideas we discussed.”

eMbalenhe Branch Chairman Mandla Mthethwa added: “It has been a wonderful experience to meet with all the delegates at the workshop and to see how other branches operate. It was a true growth experience.”