Komphela lauds his backroom chiefs
JOHANNESBURG: Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela has lauded his recently-assembled technical team – particularly the fitness department headed by Brazilian Marco Aurelio Munhoz – as Amakhosi prepare to take on rivals Orlando Pirates on Saturday.
Chiefs have recovered from an early slump and are enjoying a five-match winning streak in all competitions.
Komphela came in for criticism after requesting wholesale changes to his technical team in June. His maiden season at Naturena did not yield much success as the Glamour Boys ended the campaign without silverware and relinquished the PSL title to Mamelodi Sundowns.
Komphela also replaced his assistant, Doctor Khumalo, with former Ghanaian international John Paintsil, who he had previously worked with at Maritzburg United.
Paintsil was appointed just a few weeks after announcing back home that he would be hanging up his boots, and he arrived at the same time as new fitness guru Munhoz as well as goalkeeping coach Alexandre Revoredo, who once had a stint at Pirates.
“I wouldn’t say they are my technical team,” said Komphela, in an effort to avoid taking credit for what was seen as drastic changes at the beginning of the season. “We are for Chiefs. The changes that had been, were from a collective point of view.
“But one can point at the level of our team readiness, technically and even physically. I think physically we are very strong.
“I have seen many matches where we would go on and on with high intensity and the opponent would not cope, some would be cramping and all that and our guys would be standing.”
Chiefs endured 120 minutes of cup football on Saturday in a stop-start affair due to adverse weather conditions, but soldiered on to win 4-2 on penalties against Maritzburg to progress to the quarter-finals of the Telkom Knockout.
“It was a tough match to play because of the weather and going all the way to extratime and penalties, but I didn’t see any signs (of fatigue) and to me, that is a plus from the people who have come in to help, including the players as well to say they are beginning to understand their responsibility,” Komphela said.
“But it’s more credit to Chiefs (management) than to any of my staff and players.”
Amakhosi are joint top of the table with Golden Arrows – who could pull away on Friday if they beat their neighbours Maritzburg – after six matches, a big boost leading up to the Soweto derby on Saturday at FNB Stadium (3.30pm kickoff).