Komphela praises Paez after Venezuelan bamboozles Pirates

JOHANNESBURG: Steve Komphela applauded the combination of Gustavo Paez and Bernard Parker at the weekend’s Soweto derby, adding that the two were just outstanding in Kaizer Chiefs’ attack.

The two fed off each other’s performances on the day, knowing exactly where to place the ball, as they terrorised Orlando Pirates’ defence for most of the match.

Paez made the most runs while Parker and his teammates, served as providers of defence-splitting passes.

It was Parker though who scored the winning goal early in the match, heading in from a sweet cross from an unmarked Paez.

Komphela said he was elated that the two were now beginning to gel as an attacking pair.

“It’s alway nice to see two players getting to understand one another,” Komphela said. “Many a times Paez would break off the defensive line, but we wouldn’t see him until it was too late. But that’s how football is. It is a great teacher.

“I was also impressed with how they performed and the feedback I got from the coaches,” Komphela added. “They couldn’t stop admiring his (Paez) movements on the pitch and how we were able to spot him early enough and give him those passes which gave defenders all sorts of problems. And that’s what we wanted.”

The 50-year old coach also added that though Paez gave a good performance on the day, it was also crucial for the Venezuelan to keep his hunger to play going, as there are other teams who are already studying his movements, so that they’ll be able to close him down.

Doing so, Komphela believes, will see the 27-year old being an unstoppable force in the new season.

“What’s important is that he should always give it his best in game situations, so that he can be able to beat those who think they are knowledgeable of him already.

“There’s also Ryan Moon who, when given a chance to play in that central role, could give us something,” Komphela added.

“But what’s important is to always make sure to try and keep the form, the formation and the rhythm of the team, while the rest (of the team) are suffering waiting for their chance to play.”