Coach: Paez will get his chance
THE FANS WANT HIM TO START AND HE WILL Coach satisfied with his cameo efforts up to now.
It has been three weeks since Gustavo Paez joined Kaizer Chiefs and the hype has somehow quietened down, but Steve Komphela has urged that he be given more time to settle.
Paez has since made three substitute appearances for Komphela’s team. He did fairly well in his debut against Free State Stars where he showed some deft touches and his off-the-ball movements impressed.
But Amakhosi supporters are growing a little curious about their new player, and would no doubt like to see more of him. Asked when Paez might get a start, Komphela called for patience.
“I can only request objectivity from sportswriters,” Komphela was quoted as saying by KickOff. com.
“If an article came out reflecting the view that, ‘but are they not getting a little edgy and desperate?’ Then we would be sending a message of being desperate. Maybe the person who must take the pressure is me. They (the supporters) are so anxious for him to start, and he will start,” added the Glamour Boys mentor.
Komphela is, however, satisfied with Paez’s contribution in the cameo appearances he has made, and said he is not too far from getting a start.
“In the matches where he went on as a substitute, his contribution was clear. What will happen when he plays the full match is going to be completely different from him going on for 20 or 15 minutes,” he said.
Perhaps Komphela’s dilemma has been that the team have been doing well and he is experienced enough to know not to tamper.
“It’s very important to maintain some level of consistency, especially when results are coming. You can imagine, you forget that the team has been consistent since Golden Arrows, Polokwane City, Free State Stars... and then all of a sudden you want to topple the whole thing and change, it’ll give you problems.
“To get the same stability, you want to have a gradual, not drastic change. Paez’s quality, the passes ... he’ll receive time ... he’ll get time on the pitch.”