Booing Chiefs fans deserve the middle finger

Most football players live by these rules, but Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi went off the script when Amakhosi fans disapproved of his inclusion in the game following Itumeleng Khune’s freak injury in the opening 30 minutes of their game against Baroka FC over the weekend.

After his Man of the Match performance in Chiefs’ 1-0 win over Bakgaga, Akpeyi gave Chiefs supporters who booed him a piece of his mind.

Players should always welcome criticism from supporters but the fans also need to show respect to the players. Granted, boo a player for poor performance but not for replacing a club darling through forced injury.

In return, the players must not throw their jerseys at the crowd like Thamsanqa Gabuza did while he was playing for Orlando Pirates. A player must rather pull a Man of the Match performance like Akpeyi and then give the fans a piece of his mind.

There is only so much booing one can take before one retaliates and hope it comes to an end, because whoever steps in to protect you from the boo boys will grow tired and eventually instruct you to fight back.

It is only right for coaches to pretend not to see or hear what their players are saying to abusive supporters once they have had enough of their nonsense. Coaches should also pretend not to see the middle finger directed at the supporters from players.

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