Chiefs kids will deliver — Steve
But there are some tough assignments ahead, starting with Baroka today
Steve Komphela’s cool-as-a-cucumber demeanour will be rigorously tested during Kaizer Chiefs’ next five league matches, which could decide both his future and that of the glamour club’s title credentials.
Under pressure since the final year of his three-year contract kicked in in August, Komphela has shown some stoicism in remaining focussed in one of the most demanding jobs in South African football.
If results on the pitch over the past twoand-a-half-years of Komphela’s reign had matched his approach to his job, he would have no worries about his future at Chiefs.
In fact Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung pronounced last week that “Komphela has a bright future”, albeit without clarifying where that future lay.
Komphela has somehow managed to build a strong relationship with the club’s management — much to the grief of the hordes of Amakhosi fans who were never impressed with his appointment in the first place.
That Komphela has no major trophy to show for his efforts strengthened the fans’ call for his dismissal.
One of the main reasons the Chiefs hierarchy has been seduced by Komphela’s work ethic, has been his ability to bring the young guns into the starting 11, though the results are yet to bear fruit.
“Teams have phases,” said Komphela as he sought to explain his work with the young blood at Chiefs.
“We had a phase where we were rebuilding. You can now see what’s happening with the assistance of the youth.
“When you bring in the new signings (Leonardo Castro, Siphelele Ntshangase and Kabelo Mahlasela) at the back of that youth energy, it is a huge plus.”
Komphela had some credit and vindica-
See what’s happening with the assistance of youth Steve Komphela Kaizer Chiefs coach
tion going his way when he gave debuts to young central midfielder Wiseman Meyiwa, 18, and defender Siyabonga Ngezana, 20, who both scored on their full debuts.
“When you look at Meyiwa, Ngezana, Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya and Teenage Hadebe even though Hadebe is a foreigner ... these kids are 18, 19, 20 and 21.
“You have 10 years in these kids. Now you can literally say we are in [a] comfort zone when these kids give you 10 years and then you go out and get your Castros, you won’t be spending too much.”
For the sake of his future, though, Komphela is hoping “these kids” will deliver the last two remaining trophies this season, amid wild speculation that Chiefs have lined up Free State Stars coach Luc Eymael to join them in June.
“When it comes out well (blooding the youngsters) then it is a beauty that everyone must embrace,” said Komphela.
“I hope it will happen very soon [the reward].
The SuperSport match was a great one in terms of seeing these results with NtiyaNtiya making a great debut.”
Besides seeing his team gaining results through their investment in youth, Komphela also sees this as a duty of every coach in the PSL.
Komphela has always accepted that his core job at Chiefs is to bring in trophies.
“How we do that supporters don’t care, all they need is trophies,” said Komphela. Well, the league race is still open. You could easily say it’s game on.
“Sundowns are still in with a chance and Pirates just created opportunity and there’s still a lot of matches to play.”
With Castro’s work permit sorted out after his move to Chiefs from Sundowns, Komphela will be expected to unleash the Colombian striker against Baroka FC in Limpopo today. Though happy with Ntshangase’s contribution after coming off the bench when making his debut last weekend, Komphela did highlight that there are aspects of his game he still needs to work on.