Coach suffers media backlash

Johannesburg - Kaizer Chiefs' under fire coach Vladimir Vermezovic, felt the silent wrath of the local soccer media on Monday at the PSL offices when reporters refused to ask him any questions during a press conference to promote Wednesday’s Absa Premiership Soweto Derby against Moroka Swallows at Dobsonville.

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The drama started last Thursday at the Chiefs Village where the Serbian born coach threw a tantrum and claimed a reporter from the Daily Sun had misquoted him in an interview about Chiefs striker Kaizer Motaung jr.

Vermezovic (47) at the time stormed out of the media briefing, saying he would not speak to the media again, denying saying what he was reported to have said in the newspaper.

However, the newspaper had a tape recording of the interview, which exonerated the reporter. It meant an embarrassing climb down by the Serbian coach who said he had not read the article properly and said he was misinformed and apologised only to the Daily Sun.

Vermezovic offered his apology to the newspaper on live television after Chiefs' 0-0 league draw against Platinum Stars at the Rand Stadium on Saturday night. However, what angered the soccer scribes was the apology was for Daily Sun and not the other members of the media.

What has also upset the media is the fact he tried to “bully” the media when he knew he was wrong. The tape was the smoking gun and proved the Daily Sun got their facts correct.

Monday was not a planned demonstration by the media against Vermezovic, but happened on the spur of the moment with the journalists feeling the same about the way Vermezovic had disrespected them and their Daily Sun colleague.

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