MY VIEW

Soccer writer RODNEY REINERS says: Yes, it’s the action inside the sporting arena that has us enthralled, glued to seats and couches as the on-field gladiators tease and torment our frayed, fragile emotions. But, hey, let’s be honest, it’s just as much the off-field drama, controversy and personality that keep us coming back for more. Jose Mourinho’s handshake plan and Arsene Wenger’s oh-so-nifty sidestep to avoid being caught up in the Portuguese manager’s complex psychological games. Say what you like, you loved it. Because the characters captivate us and, in the PSL, new Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela’s unique-speak in interviews much like Eric Cantona and Australian rugby’s “Honey Badger”, Nick Cummins remains a topic of heated discussion. On Wednesday night, after League and Cup champions Chiefs had come from behind to defeat Maritzburg United 5-3 in extra time, Komphela’s quote of the week was: “Adversity is the breakfast of champions.” This is the same coach who is known for quotes such as: “Statistics are like a bikini, they don’t reveal anything.” Yes, it’s all part and parcel of the theatre, the fun and the intrigue. Like a soap opera on steroids –and we lap it up eagerly, desperately awaiting the next instalment.