Embattled Komphela safe for now
Orlando Pirates coach Kjell Jonevret says there is now something to dream about at the club after they set up a Nedbank Cup final against SuperSport United.
Pirates have had a difficult season and are set to finish outside the top eight in the Absa Premiership for the first time in their history. Jonevret, however, who joined the club in February, has steered them into a second successive Ke Yona final following a 1-0 win over Golden Arrows at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Sunday.
The Swede believes his team were worthy winners and could have easily scored more goals, but he was satisfied with the overall result.
“We were the better team, but there were some nervous moments in the latter stages of the game. In the first half we had control of the game and should have probably scored one or two more goals. I thought the players were great,” said the Bucs coach.
“They (Arrows) played higher in the second half and we were a little bit tired in the last 15 to 20 minutes. We had difficulty in trying to hold the ball, but Thamsanqa Gabuza was fantastic keeping it up there. I think we deserved to win. It was okay in the end and I am happy, now we have something to dream about.”
Skipper Oupa Manyisa has faced criticism from fans in the last few months for his displays. Jonevret, however, was over the moon with the midfielder’s efforts against Arrows and believes Manyisa still has a lot to offer.
“There have been a lot of people talking about how Oupa’s career is over. I think he was fantastic today, and all the players worked hard,” he added.
Meanwhile, midfielder Thabo Rakhale, who got the Man-of-theMatch accolade following his tireless work on the right wing, as he created plenty of attacks and still managed to track back to defend, thanked Jonevret for improving his style of play, which was previously mostly based on attacking.
“The coach has helped me in terms of my defensive play and going forward I use my ability. It is working for me and the team,” said Rakhale.
“I am happy, and I believe the guys are also happy. We owe this to ourselves after having had a barren season and our beloved supporters. We worked very hard today and this is the result.”
The Buccaneers meet SuperSport United in what is a repeat of last year’s final, which saw Matsatsantsa emerging 3-2 winners at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
But before that, Pirates will play Arrows one more time in their last league game of the season, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. Just when Kaizer Chiefs supporters were starting to warm to coach Steve Komphela (below), as there seemed to be light at the end of the tunnel with the team in the race for the Absa Premiership title, it has turned out that light was an oncoming train.
Calls for Komphela’s head have started all over again and with the season coming to an end this weekend, speculation over his future is bound to go into overdrive. This will be despite two of the club’s most influential people – chairman Kaizer Motaung and his son and football manager Bobby – declaring their support for Komphela.
Under Komphela, Amakhosi have gone two seasons without a trophy, something some would say is a cardinal sin at the country’s most successful club. This last happened in the late 90s.
But while fans seem to be anticipating Komphela being shown the door, the management hold a different view – or at least it seems that way.
“Let’s face it, Steve had a rough time in his first season, even though he reached two cup finals. Looking back at it again now, we did not do well in the cups, and we were very shaky in the league at the beginning, but we regrouped. For the moment, contractually Steve still has another season to go with us. We cannot decide overnight he must go because if we do that we are working against ourselves,” Motaung senior said earlier this month.
“If we had it in mind that he wouldn’t be here next season, we should have been working towards it by now. Chopping and changing coaches can sometimes hurt you badly.”
Amakhosi had an outside chance of winning the Absa Premiership title up until a defeat and two consecutive draws put paid to their run.