Mabedi to take up the Chiefs hot seat

JOHANNESBURG: Patrick Mabedi has been appointed Kaizer Chiefs interim coach for the remainder of the season following the resignation of Steve Komphela at the weekend, the club said in a statement yesterday.

Mabedi, a former Chiefs player and a man who returned to Naturena this season to be Komphela’s second in command, will begin his shortterm duty by calling the shots in tonight’s away PSL clash against Golden Arrows at the Princess Magogo Stadium.

Komphela stepped down following Amakhosi’s elimination from the Nedbank Cup after they were beaten 2-0 by Free State Stars at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, a result which led to crowd violence from supporters who were baying for the 50-year-old coach’s blood.

The former Chiefs captain quit minutes later during a press conference and Mabedi will now take over the remaining three league matches against Arrows, Maritzburg United and Ajax Cape Town.

Komphela arrived at Chiefs in June 2015 and was expected to vacate the post at the end of the season following what was viewed as an unsuccessful spell because of his failure to win a single trophy during his time at the club.

Mabedi, also a captain at Amakhosi when they won two league titles in 2004 and 2005, will be assisted by reserve team coach Arthur Zwane, another former Chiefs player.

“In the meantime, the search is on (to) find a new coach for next season,” the statement read.