I’m a die-hard Chiefs fan, says Casric Stars coach

Smiling from ear to ear, Casric Stars co-coach Bucs Mthombeni could not hide his excitement, itching to be in the dugout to face a team he dearly loves, Kaizer Chiefs.

Mthombeni revealed that he is a big Chiefs supporter, stating that he worshipped former stars such as Arthur Zwane and Jabu Mahlangu.

The Casric Stars coach will be up against his favourite team, Amakhosi, in the Nedbank Cup last 16 clash at FNB Stadium on Sunday, 12 March, in Soweto.

The Soweto giants have been bundled out of the Nedbank Cup by minnows in the past, and Mthombeni and his troops will fancy their chances of causing an upset at the weekend.

“I’m a die-hard fan of Kaizer Chiefs, and during Arthur Zwane and Jabu Pule’s playing days, I always drove from Mpumalanga to come and watch Kaizer Chiefs,” said Mthombeni.

There is much on the line for Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane, tasked with ending the club’s long trophy drought.

The last time Amakhosi won silverware was when Stuart Baxter steered them to a Cup double in the 2014/2015 season.

A few hours after the Nedbank Cup last 16 draw was conducted with Casric Stars paired against Chiefs, a video was trending on social media of the Motsepe Foundation Championship side players celebrating.

Many assumed that Casric Stars were cheerful due to Chiefs’ history of being humbled by lower division teams in recent years in the Nedbank Cup.

However, the coach has since clarified that his players were not over the moon for being drawn against Chiefs, a giant that has fallen, but because he is a Chiefs fan.

I’M A DIE-HARD CHIEFS FAN

“To be quite honest, I’m a die-hard Kaizer Chiefs fan. That’s why these boys were waiting for this [the draw], and after the draw, everyone asked, ‘which colours are you going to wear’? declared Mthombeni.

“I said, ‘no, why are you asking me? Because I’m a Casric Stars coach’. They also wanted to see my behaviour.

“I also said, ‘remember I chose to be here; I’m at Casric Stars; that is why you saw the boys were celebrating like that.

“They wanted to see how a child versus a father would be, which was the only thing they were celebrating.

“Let me just clear this thing. I don’t want people to think they were celebrating that Chiefs are an easy team. I know Chiefs is a big team. The players were excited that I’m going to play against my favourite team.

“They said, ‘yeah, I wanted to see the coach when he’s playing against his favourite team; what is going to happen’,” concluded Mthombeni.

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