Komphela looks to the stars for help
● Divine intervention lingered in Steve Komphela’s mind this week as he was planning Kaizer Chiefs’ onslaught on Golden Arrows at the FNB Stadium today.
With so much at stake regarding Komphela’s future following his failure to bring silverware to Chiefs in over two-and-a-half-years at the helm, who can blame the Chiefs mentor for seeking some form of help.
So desperate is Komphela that he was prepared to sacrifice his own life if that would bring the Nedbank Cup and joy to Amakhosi fans who are craving trophies.
On a serious note, though, one could say Komphela has in his hands some form of intervention, the only thing missing being the will to execute it.
The real intervention at Chiefs today could come in Komphela’s decision about which team he decides to start with.
Komphela hinted after last weekend’s nerve-wracking 1-1 league draw at Bidvest Wits that the two new players — Leonardo Castro and Siphelele Ntshangase — Amakhosi fans have been yearning to see in the starting line-up, might be ready to start.
“You’re always tempted,” said Komphela of Castro and Ntshangase’s readiness after they gave another compelling performance against Wits.
“You’re saying if I start Castro do you put (Ryan) Moon outside? He scored (against Wits),” said Komphela.
“You start Ntshangase, maybe Shabba (Siphiwe Tshabalala) out, that’s another dynamic. Do you then go with two tens, where you play Shabba and Ntshangase and put one of the strikers out...?
“It depends on the game itself. But their (Castro and Ntshangase) contribution is quite clear.”
The last “quite clear” line is the kind of intervention Amakhosi supporters will hope Komphela will take into account when he names his starting team against Arrows today.
Unlike in the league, Komphela will not have a second chance to think about starting or not starting these players — precisely the reason why he must throw in Castro to start alongside Moon and find space for Ntshangase in the midfield.
Komphela knows that a loss today will also affect Chiefs’ run in the league where they still have some hope of catching Mamelodi Sundowns, who are seven points clear of them with 10 matches to go.
A loss for Chiefs will only see the calls for Komphela to step down getting louder and louder — a situation Komphela cannot afford as it will distract his players.
“Cup competitions don’t have a therefore like in any other match,” said Komphela.
With that in mind Chiefs fans will want to see Komphela going all out by playing his best XI that includes Castro and Ntshangase from the word go. That’s the only practical intervention they’ll be looking for.