Cup run vital for Chiefs

Komphela knows he has to put some silverware in the Amakhosi cabinet

IT CAN’T be easy testing your wits against the same opponent a few weeks following a corresponding fixture, and Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela – ahead of the Glamour Boys hosting Maritzburg United for the second time in nearly a month – said he was no different.

Amakhosi host Maritzburg in the opening round of the Telkom Knockout at FNB Stadium, the same venue where they controversially beat coach Ernst Middendorp’s side 2-0 in an Absa Premiership clash to register what was then their second successive victory. Chiefs have gone on to win two more matches and are currently at the summit of the Premier League table and the pressure has eased on Komphela, who endured a tough start to the season.

The Chiefs coach on Tuesday discussed the winning feeling, the need to win a silverware and how to avoid being sucker punched by a Maritzburg team that he guided to their first ever top eight finish two season ago and one that has often run Amakhosi close.

Three main talking points stuck out when Komphela addressed the media earlier in the week:

Komphela knows there can’t be a repeat of the previous season, where Chiefs not only surrendered the championship to Mamelodi Sundowns, but also failed to clinch any silverware in the coach’s maiden year.

“Without putting pressure on ourselves, we know it’s all or nothing. For the club, knockout competitions are always a must-win because we know we have come close (reaching the MTN8 final last season), but didn’t get anything,” Komphela said. He is well aware of the fact that a de- feat against Maritzburg would undo all his hard work.