HOW KOMPHELA ENDED UP IN THE FIRE

With two massive games this week it could be make or break for the under-pressure Chiefs coach, writes

STEVE KOMPHELA has lived in a pressure cooker for much of his tenure at Kaizer Chiefs, and this week will be no different for the coach. Amakhosi face Mamelodi Sundowns tonight and Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates on Saturday – two games that could determine just how long he can take the heat.

Here we look at the FIVE games that put him in this risky position BAFANA Bafana defender Morgan Gould has earned a contract extension with SuperSport United and will stay at the club beyond his playing days.

This was confirmed by SuperSport CEO Stan Matthews after they captured the MTN 8 crown at Moses Mabhida Stadium at the weekend.

Matsatsantsa A Pitori beat Cape Town City 4-2 in shoot-outs from the penalty spot after the match ended in a 1-1 stalemate after 90 minutes and extra time failed to produce further goals.

Gould, pictured, has a contract with SuperSport which is set to expire in June but Matthews said that the player will get a one year contract extension with the club.

“To be blunt with you, Morgan has already earned an extension,” Matthews explained.

“The way he has been playing, putting himself of the line ... I have given him my word that he can stay on in to next season. And when he is finished playing, there will be a place at the club for him in administration, marketing, coaching or wherever he shows passion.

“He has been a great club servant for so many years before he went to Kaizer Chiefs and now since he has come back.”

Gould is not the only player whose contract ends in June. There are several players that Matthews challenged to fight for their future at the club.

Said Matthews: “We have quite a number of players whose their contract are coming to an end but it doesn’t mean that because they are due to expire we won’t renew them.

“Guys like Masha’s (Tefu Mashamaite) expires at the end of the season, Yeye (Reneilwe Letsholonyane), Wome (Dove) and Kingston (Nkhatha) are also in the same situation. The door is open for all of them to earn extensions.

“It is not going to be easy for them. They have to put their hand up. That’s the life of the professional footballer,” Matthews stated.

Don’t expect many changes for SuperSport in January as Matthews believes they have a good enough squad to compete on all fronts this season.

“I’m not going to make a lot of changes in January. We got a good stable squad.

“I don’t see the need to make so many changes. I didn’t make many changes in the off season. I brought four to five new faces to keep it going. I’m not going to do much in January. We will save up and do some significant signings in July when four to five players who’s their contract expire. We will be looking for some new talent in July but this team now we going to run with and give them a chance to show us how bigger a season they can have,” Matthews said.