Cape Town – There is an urban legend that says children get attracted to Kaizer Chiefs Football Club because the name sounds like “Kaizer Chips”.
Kaizer Chiefs is actually named after its founder and owner Kaizer Motaung.
When Motaung founded the Phefeni Glamour Boys in 1970 he used his first name Kaizer, and joined it with that of the club he first played for in the United States, Atlanta Chiefs.
Since then Kaizer Chiefs has gone on to become one of the most recognised football clubs in South Africa, the rest of Africa, and the world.
In the UK there is an English indie rock band from Leeds that adopted the name “Kaizer Chiefs” after the Soweto club.
But on Monday this week, the “Kaizer Chips” name came close to reality
as the Soweto outfit known as Amakhosi (the Chiefs), launched a potato chip range.
Jessica Motaung – the Marketing and Commercial Director of the club invited “fans everywhere to get Khosified and truly fuel your passion”.
Kaizer Chiefs said it has launched the potato chip range to take “the essence of passion from the football pitch to the palate”.
The move by Amakhosi sent social media abuzz.
Chiefs is expanding its commercial footprint at a time when the club is going through its eighth year without winning a trophy.
This week, however, Jessica Motaung was upbeat about a turnaround of fortunes at the club.
“Our vision was clear – to deliver a snack range that embodies the boldness and vibrancy of the Kaizer Chiefs brand,” she said.
“With these explosive flavours, we invite fans everywhere to get Khosified and truly fuel your passion.”
From social media and elsewhere fans are excited, with some joking that the launch was an “unofficial” recognition of “Kaizer Chips”, which is how some people, mainly children, pronounce the club’s name.
Lawrance Maile commented: “Chiefs marketing department, you guys are doing a great job in ensuring that the brand grows. So innovative, thinking out of the box… unlike other football clubs.
“I know most people won’t stop criticising you for the wonderful job you are doing. People should know that football today is a business.”
While Themba Tshabalala posted on X: “Smiles everywhere as @KaizerChiefs launches their snack range. You can have Kaizer Chips while you watch Kaizer Chiefs.”
