Komphela fires back at Eymael

FORMER Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela has lashed back at Luc Eymael for a jibe made by the Free State Stars coach after this weekend’s Nedbank Cup final‚ slamming the Belgian as “a mercenary”.

Speaking on MetroFM’s Ultimate Sports Show with Thomas Mlambo‚ an uncharacteristically emotional Komphela angrily accused Eymael of having insulted not just himself‚ but also Stars and Chiefs.

Eymael had rubbed it in during his post-match press conference on Saturday‚ after Stars beat Maritzburg United 1-0 in the Nedbank final‚ that he had won his first trophy in his second year in South Africa‚ while he knows “some of the guys who have worked 13 years without winning a trophy”.

This was a clear reference to Komphela‚ who resigned as coach of Chiefs last month after three years without a trophy‚ and is yet to win silverware in his career.

Eymael has been linked to the vacant Chiefs job.

He also said in his press conference that if he was not contacted by Amakhosi or SuperSport United this week he would commit to Stars. Komphela was furious.

“You see there’s a big perception by some of these who come here to South Africa‚ thinking that we South Africans have to lie there and then they must make us carpets,” he said.

“No‚ no‚ no. One big mistake is that when I lie down and then you accept that you must dust your feet‚ it’s not that I’m a carpet‚ but I must [show] humility. It is not that I’m stupid.

“So‚ Luc Eymael‚ these are mercenaries. You can see the profile of this guy.

“He comes to Polokwane City‚ he doesn’t complete a contract. Lack of courtesy and professionalism.

“He says he is giving Chiefs and SuperSport a week to respond to him. If they come in a week‚ then he’s not going to go back there [to Stars].

“My man‚ how do say such? Even in the press conference he was not even aware that he was busy insulting his current employers.”

An attempt to contact Eymael on his cellphone yesterday afternoon for a response was unsuccessful.