The Star Stylist of Football Branches Nationwide—Kaizer Chiefs Tembisa Branch

We got up close and personal with the Deputy Chairperson of Amakhosi Tembisa Branch Mr Justice "Skhalazo" Mohlala who shared with #AuthenticFootballChats what makes their branch one of the biggest and successful supporters branches in the PSL.

by Kgothatso Malepe

Kaizer Chiefs Tembisa Branch—Established 48 years ago, officially launched 47 years ago and they have never dropped the ball. Today the branch stands at 145 active official members on their database, which is jackpot if you ask me. Having served as a branch secretary and Provincial Supporters Coordinator, I know how challenging it is to keep numbers consistent and growing without a decline in the branches. Skhalazo maintains that more than anything, one thing that keeps them going as a branch is the love and passion they have for football and Kaizer Football Club. "Every organisation has challenges, as a deputy chairperson I have taught myself to be humble all the time because if I do not humble myself then members will not listen to me." The branch executive says there are three factors that assist them in keeping the branch intact which are: Treating branch members equally, patience and respect. 

Just like any other organisation, supporters’ branches are governed by a set of principles and there are attributes that defines a member in good standing. "A member affiliates with R150 per season which enables us to contribute to an unfortunate event of an accident, death of a member or loved one (spouse, parent or child) but we are a not a burial society. We are just football supporters who look out for each other." Every football fan who is a stadium goer knows that traffic comes to a standstill on every category A game, and that one of the reasons why fans are encouraged to travel together as branches to lessen the traffic jam. Furthermore, travelling together with a branch is financially beneficial to members, Skhalazo testifies that; "before I joined a branch, I would travel alone using public transportation. It was costing me a lot especially to away games such as in Durban because I would have to take a bus at Park Station. Last week went to Stellenbosch for our game and we paid R1000 return which is way much affordable, unlike when you travel alone, you will spend more. Another comforting part about travelling with a branch is that you know should anything happen on the way you are covered.''

I am most certain that most soccer fans would concur when I say KC Tembisa branch is the star stylist of football branches nationwide. The ever-classy members of Tembisa branch always show up wearing matching beautiful Kaizer Chiefs kit which makes them to turn heads in stadiums, be easily identifiable and mostly, beautiful to just watch. Just like myself, you have probably been asking yourself how they make it possible to have 80+ branch members wearing the same club home jersey on the first game of the season. Skhalazo shares their ingredient which he hopes will be of assistance to other branches. "When we go to stadium, there is certain amount of money that we subtract from the transport money. For example, when going to FNB Stadium, we charge R120 per seat then subtract R30 from each seat, which makes it R300 per taxi. Sometimes we take four taxis and more to FNB. Come end of the season, we have made a lot of money which enables us to subsidise branch members for home/away seasonal jerseys. What works for us as well is that we make our purchases in bulks which earns us a discount. This season we bought 95+ home jerseys and 70+ away jerseys simultaneously." 

Football fans can relate and identify more with their clubs when they are wearing their club's gear. I can only imagine the excitement and energy that resonates within Tembisa branch on a match day. The kind of energy that creates an atmosphere that makes whoever they come across on match day to want to join in on their trip. I always say that sometimes you do not even need to say a word when recruiting new members. People simply look at how you love your club, the things you do together as supporters, be it events, stadium trips or supporting each other during funerals, then they fall in love with the badge.

It would be injustice to finish this story without mentioning how Skhalazo is grateful for the relationship Kaizer Chiefs Football Club has built with branches. "Our relationship with the club is very good, they have assigned a gentleman who works directly with us supporters, Cecil Motaung. He is a very humble and understanding person, he always has time for us. Whenever we have a problem, we communicate with him" says Skhalazo in high spirits. He goes on to express how thankful he is to the club, that they sometimes give them complimentary tickets which helps cut costs especially on away games. "After our Stellenbosch game, the club thanked us for attending, we were the only branch from Gauteng that came in a full taxi". One thing I can assure you is that 'Thank you' goes a long, it motivates supporters and keeps them going when clubs’ thanks them and recognise their unwavering support, it makes fans feel that they are indeed part of the club. Skhalazo mentions that supporters’ memberships cards of Kaizer Chiefs are currently on hold, but he is optimistic that it will be sorted soon, and when it does, he hopes the membership will come with benefits such as accident and funeral cover because supporters travel a lot.