Local fans had a fun-filled day on Monday after Italian heavyweights AS Roma acknowledged South African giants Kaizer Chiefs as their “Twitter Team of the Day.”
Roma’s tweet‚ which also reminded all that Chiefs are the most successful club in South Africa‚ ignited the Twitterverse and triggered a rage of flames from fans of rival clubs.
#ASRoma’s Twitter Team of the Day is @KaizerChiefs. Founded in in 1970, the Chiefs have won more trophies than any other team in South Africa. The club inspired the name of the indie band Kaiser Chiefs due to former star Lucas Radebe playing for the band’s favourite team @LUFC 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/r3srnIRGZh
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) February 4, 2019
FYI @Masandawana is the most successful team in South Africa…Chiefs comes second or third after Downs. pic.twitter.com/EWjF1V3rTj
— Man’s African (@PTAkonfidenxial) February 4, 2019
The owner of @KaizerChiefs chiefs is Kaizer Motaung, he is a soccer legend in South Africa, he played for a FC called Chiefs in the USA. Upon coming back to ZA he founded a team after his name & paying homage to the Chiefs in the USA, that’s how @KaizerChiefs was formed
— Farrakhan Jnr (@phindo_X) February 4, 2019
The rival fans jealously argued that while Chiefs remain the most successful team in the country‚ they have not been as dominant since the inception of the Premier Soccer League in 1996.
Most of thier trophies they won in a semi pro era, many trophies won controversially by bribes payed to referees, in 96 the league was re-established since then they haven’t been as dominant in the local seen, theres a team in south africa with the most league titles 1/2
— Tito Vilanova (@IamAlphonzo) February 4, 2019
In the new era mamelodi sundowns with 8 league championships twice the amount as kaizer chiefs who have 4 since 1996, they hvnt won any continental championship except for a now defunct knockout tournament almost 10 years ago, sundowns won 2016 african champs league and supercup
— Tito Vilanova (@IamAlphonzo) February 4, 2019
It is not clear what inspired the Italian giants’ move to brand Chiefs their “Twitter Team of the Day” but one thing that was clear was that the tweet did not go down very well with Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns fans in particular.
We can only hope that the acknowledgement is informed more by Chiefs’ efficient manner with which they run their Twitter page than what the club currently dishes out on the field of play.
Chiefs are currently struggling and are in their fourth season without a trophy for the first time in the club’s 49-year-old history.