Komphela gives five subs the thumbs up
Golden Arrows coach Steve Komphela would welcome the introduction of five substitutions with “open arms” when the Premier Soccer League (PSL) campaign resumes after the Covid19 enforced break.
When the Bundesliga resumed in May‚ German coaches were allowed to make five substitutes per match and La Liga in Spain‚ Serie A in Italy and the English Premier League are set to follow suit.
There has not been any indication from the PSL if clubs are going to be allowed to make five substitutions but Komphela said he would welcome the move even though it is going to come with pros and cons.
“I look at it from a positive side. Players have just got out of this trauma of Covid-19 where they have been training at home. There is also the challenge that we will be playing two matches per week and that should count as well‚” he said.
“Inasmuch as you have pros‚ you also have cons of what are the challenges when it comes to five subs. From a coaching point of view‚ it is going to affect the rhythm of the game and it means I must then train my players to adapt to conditions that whatever sub I am making, the system of the team must still be rolling.”
Komphela said five substitutions would benefit teams that play in a system and do not rely on individual star players to influence their results.
“Everyone at Golden Arrows knows the duties and the responsibilities of a right-back, and I can play a striker at rightback at Arrows. It is going to benefit teams with good systems and it is going to work against teams who depend on players.
“I welcome it with both hands. We did a workshop with retired referee Ace Ncobo on the laws of the game because Fifa has amended some of the rules.
“We invited him to discuss with us because as a coach I can read the rules and interpret them as a coach and players can read them and interpret them as players. But the interpretation of the laws needs an expert, and Ace tore the thing apart.
“And as you ask about the five subs and its implications‚ I answer with better understanding because they have been fully explained.”