Chiefs draw a blank in Abidjan to bow out

STEVE KOMPHELA’S woes as Kaizer Chiefs coach were aggravated last night when Amakhosi were knocked out of the CAF Champions League by ASEC Mimosas in the second leg of their first-round tie following a goalless draw in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

The home side had taken a 1-0 advantage into the return match having narrowly defeated the Glamour Boys in Johannesburg a week earlier. That solitary goal proved to be enough to send them into the next round on aggregate. It is that loss that led to irate fans baying for Komphela’s blood and demanding his immediate resignation.

The game in Abidjan, against an ASEC side that has also been struggling in their own domestic league, was crucial not only for progress into the next round, but for the coach’s tenure. Chiefs arrived in Ivory Coast on the back of four successive defeats – equalling their unwanted record when Doctor Khumalo and Donald “Ace” Khuse were interim coaches in 2012.

Komphela, pictured right, fielded a strong team desperate to cancel out Adama Bakayoko’s first-leg goal at the FNB Stadium, but ASEC were resolute in their defence. There were very few chances for Amakhosi to break the deadlock. Even when they rang the changes in the second half, bringing on more attack-minded players, they still could not score.

Chiefs have now gone seven games with- out a win and blew their opportunity to retain the PSL title when they were beaten 20 by Platinum Stars nearly two weeks ago.

Under Komphela, who arrived at the club in June to replace Stuart Baxter, the Glamour Boys reached the MTN8 and Telkom Knockout finals, but failed to win either.

The international break will afford them a breather as they return to action on April 12 with an away match against Mpumalanga Black Aces in Nelspruit. Due to their inactivity in the domestic league and the back-to-back defeats, Chiefs have slipped down to fourth place and trail log-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns by 13 points with seven matches remaining.

Meanwhile, Wits were also dumped out of a continental competition after Tanzania’s Azam FC beat them 7-3 on aggregate to advance to the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup. The Clever Boys were also playing away from home, where they had been thumped 3-0 a week before, with coach Gavin Hunt adamant that the tournament was not their priority. Success in the domestic league, as well as building their academy, was his mandate, said Hunt. – Sports Staff