Kaizer Chiefs interim coach Cavin Johnson has moved swiftly to refute allegations of racism and substance abuse at Nuturena after weekend newspaper reports suggested that there were serious issues behind the scenes with the struggling Glamour Boys.

A report in the Sunday World alleged that veteran Itumeleng Khune and Mduduzi Mdantsane had arrived at training under the influence of alcohol. It also suggested that team management favoured coloured players over others at the club.

But Johnson, who was appointed interim manager following the departure of Molefi Ntseki, said the reports had no basis at all and were simply the work of people trying to discredit the Chiefs brand.

Speaking to TimesLive, Johnson said: “We read it all the time and Kaizer Chiefs being the brand that they are, I think there’s a lot of people that looked to bring this big brand to a lower level. Because in reality, there’s no brand that is as strong as this brand.

“So, whatever you can find and whatever you can do to try to discredit them is always in the papers.

“I think it’s not only now, it’s been for a good few years, you know what I’m saying? And for myself, being born in a country where it was black and white, I know how to handle those things.

“So, when it comes to those things [controversial reports] it’s like water on the duck’s back for me because if you were born and the rainbow was black and white, and now it’s colourful and you know how to handle those.

“We don’t have any problems within our village of that sort of nature. And with the players, you can see on the pitch that they want to do it for each other.”

Chiefs were able to win their most recent outing, a 1-0 win over Moroka Swallows on Sunday, a result that moved Amakhosi up to sixth on the league table.