Komphela: No! No! No! We are still in it

PRETORIA: Steve Komphela said it three times to emphasise the point of how much he believes Kaizer Chiefs are still in the Premiership race even though they dropped two points in Polokwane. The points that Chiefs lost in the 2-2 draw with Baroka FC at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday could have taken them to second place. But Amakhosi remain in fourth place, three points behind log leaders Cape Town City.

Chiefs and the Citizens have failed to make the most of their advantage of not playing on the continent, unlike Bidvest Wits, SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns, who continued their continental duties this past weekend.

If these three clubs win their games in hand, they will overtake Chiefs and the Capetonians on the log in a five-horse league race.

“No! No! No! We are still in it. I only concentrate on us. I don’t look at somebody else’s activities. Those who are better qualified can form their own opinion. Me, I am standing where I am,” Komphela said.

The coach admitted though that it was worrying that the club dropped vital points, especially at this stage in the final stretch even though they have gone nine games without a loss. It’s the four draws in that run that hampered their progress up the log. It’s the same thing with Matsatsantsa a Pitori who are on a 19-match unbeaten run. That run includes 10 draws.

City also dropped points in their goalless draw with Bloemfontein Celtic. These dropped points have made this a tight league race as Wits and Sundowns have also not been consistent.

“There are still a lot of games to play,” Komphela, pictured, said. “It’s only that you don’t want to drop points at a crucial time when everyone wants three points.

“The league is coming to an end. It’s crunch time. Every point counts. But these three points (against Baroka) were very important us.”

The league will take a pause because of the international break. Chiefs will resume their campaign against the Brazilians on Saturday next week. Sundowns will be keen to kickstart their league defence after they booked a place in the group stage of the CAF Champions League that they’re also defending.

What should make the finish exciting is that the top five teams still have to play against each other. Chiefs’ last nine games include hosting Sundowns, visiting the Citizens and Matsatsantsa before ending their campaign at home against the Clever Boys.