Chiefs snub CAF lure
02 December 2009
Ramatsiyi Moholoa - ramatsiyi@sowetan.co.za

Motaung cites ‘ logistical reasons’ for declining inviteKAIZER Chiefs have declined an offer to take part in the Confederation Cup.

This despite the competition carrying 300000 (R2,2million) and 200000 (R1,48million) for the runner-up.
Amakhosi would have also received an allowance of R1million from the Premier Soccer League to compete in the tournament.

The Soweto glamour boys qualified for the continental event after finishing third on the Absa Premiership last season.

Their decision not to compete means that South Africa will have only three teams in the 2010 Confederation of African Football (CAF) club competition.
The teams are SuperSport United, Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows, who will play in the Cup by virtue of being the Nedbank Cup winners last season.
Matsatsantsa a Pitori and Pirates will take part in the African Champions League, which has been dominated by north African clubs. The three teams will also receive a R1million allowance from the league. CAF provides for member countries to be represented by four teams: two in the Champions League and two in the Confederation Cup.
The deadline for clubs to confirm their participation was Monday.
PSL chief of operations Ronnie Schloss said: “SuperSport United, Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows are the only teams that will participate in CAF club competitions from the league.
“We had a fourth slot, which is for a club that finishes third in the league. We spoke to Kaizer Chiefs, they informed us that they are not participating.”
Chiefs said they will not take part in the tournament. Club manager Bobby Motaung said: “We are not going there because of logistical reasons and nothing else. We were informed that it is not compulsory to take part and that is why we did not even consider participating. ”


Chiefs won this tournament when it was still known as the Mandela Cup in 2000. Pirates are the only southern African club to win the African Champions League, in 1995.
The winners of the Champions League will get 1,5million (R7,38million) .
The losing finalists will take home 1million, while the semifinalists will each receive 700000, the third side in each group 500000.

South Africans clubs really never repected Caf competitions and wonder why Caf is still inviting them,I mean when they do play in it they normaly send their reserve teams or developmental teams.And until we commit to this competitions no one will take Absa Premier Soccer League seriously.So clubs like Kaizer Chiefs are a disgrace to south african soccer.God I hate this mentality.

This is 1 of the reasons why Bafana Bafana became pathetic.

SA depends on its league for international players just like Egypt & Tunisia but the later have seasoned players who have years of international club experience which comes in handy @ CAN.

The SA PSL is currently in 12th position in CAF rankings and will sooner rather than later lose this spot which makes it to qualify for 2 slots in Pan African competitions.

Compare the furore which the 2nd CAF confederations cup slot generated in Nigeria which has an all-Europe based international squad and the apathy that the 2nd CAF slot is generating in SA and you will realise that SAFA, PSL, the SA media and the fans do not realise the predicament that SA football is in.