Coaches in search of Cup glory
Komphela and Malesela will hope to win their first trophies as top flight coaches
THE Nedbank Cup semi-finals will present coaches with an opportunity to move closer towards ending their trophy drought.
Lamontville Golden Arrows face National First Division (NFD) outfit TS Galaxy at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont on Saturday at 3pm while Kaizer Chiefs tackle Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth at 8.15pm the same day.
Steve Komphela and Dan “Dance” Malesela are still searching for their maiden triumphs in their club coaching careers.
Komphela has brought a new lease of life since taking over the hot seat at Abafana Bes’thende. His team is playing with confidence.
The former Kaizer Chiefs coach has been close. It’s been 17 excruciating years for Komphela. With Manning Rangers in the same competition in 2005 he lost 3-1 to Moroka Swallows.
During his tenure with Amakhosi Komphela lost to Ajax Cape in the final of the MTN8 and was beaten by Mamelodi Sundowns in the Telkom Knockout final.
Komphela will hope to end his drought with Abafana Bes’thende by propelling them to their second trophy in top flight football.
Arrows are facing a drought themselves. The last time they tasted glory was under the leadership of Manqoba Mngqithi in 2009. Arrows hammered the Urban Warriors 6-0 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
Galaxy may be playing in the NFD but they are no pushovers. They will look to follow in the footsteps of Pretoria University, Mpumalanga Black Aces and Black Leopards who reached the cup final while campaigning in the NFD. Galaxy play eye catching football with silky passing.
Malesela stumbled in the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup on two occasions. He was a beaten semifinalist with United FC in 2013. Malesela also lost to SuperSport United when he was still with Chippa two seasons ago.
The former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns player will aim to get the monkey off his back and march to his maiden cup final.
The theme will also be about ending the barren run when Amakhosi tackle the Chilli Boys in PE. Ernst Middendorp hasn’t won a cup since 2006. The German has been imprisoned in a state of disappointment in the last 13 years.
While Middendorp will be eager to end his drought, Amakhosi are in an identical situation. They haven’t won silverware since 2015. The Amakhosi faithful are pinning their hopes on the man who hasn’t won a trophy in 13 years to help them get back to the glory days but it won’t be easy against the giant killing Chippa who knocked Sundowns and Bidvest Wits out of this competition.
Chippa will target a maiden cup final appearance. The Chilli Boys are yet to lift a trophy in top flight football. Clinton Larsen will hope to be the first man to guide Chippa to greatness. Larsen will also aim to end his drought. He won his first trophy with Bloemfontein Celtic in 2012. Larsen hasn’t managed to add to that triumph.