Editor's Column - Clint Roper

One former Kaizer Chiefs coach, Vladimir Vermezovic, leaves Orlando Pirates, and a week later his team scores four goals against a strong Ajax Cape Town side.   Another former Kaizer Chiefs coach, Ernst Middendorp, loses his job and leaves Bloemfontein Celtic, and now the current Kaizer Chiefs coach is threatening to leave Kaizer Chiefs if a section of fans don't stop booing his players. Yip, it was a heck of a weekend in the PSL.    The question most Kaizer Chiefs fans will be asking themselves is, "Is Baxter for real?" Now, remember that in the heat of the moment when emotions are high, things can be said that possibly shouldn't be said, but Baxter is usually in control of his emotions so, when he said on national TV, "I am tired of it," and, "I've got to make the decision – do I want to keep working in a club where you don't know if your best players are going to be depressed because of some idiots in the crowd?" then possibly he was not messing around. He went on to say, "I've got to make a decision and maybe that decision is that I don't want to do it (continue)."    Does he have a reason to be frustrated? I would say so, considering he has had one of the best starts to a season in the club's history. He has created a squad that nobody can get the better of and it looks like the league title is just about done and dusted, and yet his decisions on players are still being questioned by some of the fans.    Remember Baxter comes from a football culture where winning is celebrated, and where being top of the league should be enough to demand a little more respect in terms of the decisions he is making for the club he leads. The PSL might be the only league in the world where a league-leading team is booed… where the players who toil week in and week out for the club are slandered and berated.    Think of Wayne Rooney, who at times during his career has gone through barren spells and was unable to hit the back of the net. You don't see the Red Devils booing him. Van Persie for a while this season was not finding the back of the net, but fans were not on his back, and Manchester United are now reaping the rewards for giving their player time to get his confidence back.    So, in my humble opinion, I would say that the negative section of Chiefs' fans should think long and hard about the dynamics of the team they are criticizing, lest their efforts result in a top coach leaving the club, scuppering the team's league title charge and resulting in another era of rebuilding.   On a more positive note, it's that time again when the newspaper team of Soccer Laduma bid you farewell for the year and thank you for your continued support. It's been another massive year for Soccer Laduma, with this publication, your weekly soccer catch-up, being one of the few newspapers in South Africa to show growth in an industry that has taken some knocks.   While Soccer Laduma has expanded, now offering you a huge range of social platforms on which to interact with us, as well as one of the biggest sports websites on the continent, it is the Soccer Laduma newspaper that remains the flagship of our brand. It is because of the support of each and every one of you currently reading this edition that we have maintained this amazing level of success, so a huge thanks from all of us here at Soccer Laduma!    Remember this will be the last edition of this year, with the first edition of the New Year hitting the news stands on the 7th of January 2015. While the paper team takes a short breather, the Siya Crew will be at full tilt making sure you get all the transfer news as it happens, both locally and internationally, on your Soccer Laduma website. If you are not a regular visitor to www.snl24.com/soccerladuma, then you really are missing out on the best, daily, up-to-date football news available today.    To you and yours, be safe and we will see you in 2015!    Shapa, Clint