Kaizer Chiefs cancel player awards after poor season

Kaizer Chiefs have cancelled the club’s end-of-season awards gala this year due to an underwhelming campaign, announced the team on their official website.

Since their foundation, the Johannesburg side have hosted a ceremony in which the club thank and reward the players and the staff. However, this season - the Kaizer Chiefs' third without a silverware - will be the first one in the club’s history that the event will not be held.

Underwhelming campaign

Kaizer Chiefs finished third in the South African Premier League, and head coach Steve Komphela resigned after a 2-0 defeat in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals to Free State Stars in April.

After that match several fans showed their anger with the team, chasing players off the pitch, ripping out seats and lighting fires in the stands.

Kaizer Chiefs’ chairman, Kaizer Motaung, said that the team’s underwhelming performance is the reason for the cancellation

‘It has become customary for us to host a ceremony where the club thanks and rewards the players, technical team, staff and other individuals who have distinguished themselves over the course of the season. However, this season was marked by unusual events, one of which was seeing the club go a third year without lifting a major trophy.

‘Our decision was influenced by our displeasure with the team’s performance and not being able to achieve objectives we set for ourselves,’ says Motaung.

The Johannesburg side last won the league title in 2015, having also won it in 2013 and finished as runners-up in 2014.

According to the club, they will now focus on rebuilding for next season and finding a new manager. Former Chelsea and West Ham coach Avram Grant has been linked with the position.