We are grateful to have renewed our sponsorship deal with VODACOM after a lengthy relationship that has lasted thirteen years of adventure. Ours is worthy of celebration considering that we have outdone our expectations by giving credence to our commitment through various and successful innovative marketing and corporate social responsibilities throughout the country.

Taking the lead in our relationship has always been the Vodacom Challenge, a tournament that has reached international acclaim as a major off-season attraction in our country. Today we can sit excited by its influence in continental Africa and Europe; perhaps all the more reason to embrace another opportunity to share the same stage with Vodacom and Orlando Pirates.

The capital that has been injected in our course for the decided duration has also broken bounds to challenge our teams to take more responsibilities in reaching out to the broader constituencies of our supporters. We have indeed played a significant role in uniting our supporters, pacifying warring factions in strife-torn communities at the height of our country’s socio-political transformation. These and many other achievements form an interesting history of our corporate relationship and would continue following our enkindling of our union.

We are therefore thankful that VODACOM has solidified its unwavering support to our sport of football and will certainly harvest a great load of honour and respect by those that share in its vision and that of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

Our Marketing Teams will begin in earnest to introduce more innovative and exciting marketing programmes that will certainly keep the brands afloat in business circles. This may however not dampen our competitive spirit on the fields of play as we continue to pursue the much silverware on offer in our league.

With that I would like to thank Romeo Khumalo (Mr.), who led led the Executive Team of VODACOM, Dr. Irvin Khoza who led the Orlando Pirates Family and the Commercial and Marketing Executive of Kaizer Chiefs during negotiation processes.

THE LEAGUE RACE

Whilst we may have surrendered most of our silverware and lost an opportunity to claim the prestigious ABSA Premiership Trophy, we hope to finish our season on a respectable high by bagging all points against the visiting AmaZulu. Of course after a gruelling thirty lap of pulsating effort to strike the finishing tape first, our 2011/12 season proved more laced with off-the-field drama than any time of our existence; perhaps the one factor that adversely undermined our efforts.

I may not want to shed much discouragement at this stage considering that the last three points are as equally important as those when the starting gun went off during our very first encounter in the league programme.

Amazulu will certainly come into the race with a solid effort to stay in the top eight spot whilst our win is also critical to help us finish a decent fourth should SuperSport United falter in their last game. Of course finishing fourth may not have been our cup of tea but we must again give credit to all the teams that denied us our chances for keeping the spirit of competition high throughout.

With the season going to an end, we shall once more use the recess to knuckle down hard by evaluating and counting our losses, celebrating our success and perhaps improving on the lessons and literally taking stock of the entire organisation.

We hope to visit all departments in an effort to reshape and position ourselves for the incumbent season. We have already started with the Football Department by first addressing the technical department through the acquisition of Stuart Baxter.

In a typical unpleasant welcoming fashion from self-appointed analysts and experts, the coach has already been subjected to unfortunate criticism even before his technical gear has been issued. It is also unfortunate that the matter concerning the coaches’ CV has raised some consternation but we are determined to clarify as soon as he rejoins us to resume duties. We remain focussed on our course and may never be fragile to a point of deviation from our collective responsibilities in the new season and beyond.

Our next and immediate phase is to secure material that he would need on the field as demonstrated by our signing of Siboniso Gaxa, a top flight player with international experience. We have expressed our wish list targets and hope we find favour during the tough and volatile negotiation processes. Interestingly several names have been suggested for us as usual this time around. Our challenge is never to make emotional decisions but to look into requirements that will help us pursue our objectives.

May I once more appeal for patience from our supporters as we traverse this delicate process in the business of football. We shall announce our squad when all ducks follow a straight row as we saunter into the new season.

With the VODACOM Challenge and Carling Cup lying ahead of us, I am certain that we shall utilize the experiences will mirror our intention to prepare thoroughly before the 2012/13 ABSA Premiership race begins some time in August.

CONDOLENCES

I would like to express my hearty condolences to the family and relatives of Minah Ndlhovu over the loss of her bother Jimmy Ntintili. May the family find strength during these trying times.

Kaizer Motaung (Mr)

Executive Chairman