Komphela’s Chiefs challenge
Can Steve Komphela redeem this season for Kaizer Chiefs? And how does he compare to past Chiefs coaches in their first six months in charge?
How long before Steve tastes glory?
Steve Komphela has come in for considerable criticism for failing to win any silverware during his first six months as Kaizer Chiefs coach, despite reaching two cup finals. Komphela did well to reach the MTN8 and Telkom Knockout Finals, but losing both set a new precedent – Chiefs had never lost two finals in a row during the PSL era. Giving weight to the doubts about the former Bafana captain is Amakhosi’s League form, which has not been convincing: though they had only lost once before Christmas, the Glamour Boys had drawn half of the he dozen matches that they had played. The question now is whether or not Komphela can redeem this season for the country’s most popular club. Winning silverware are is the only measuree of success and the 48-year-old knows that all too well from his time as a Chiefs player. It is a de- sirable, yet immensely stressful job, especially if silverware is not forthcoming. And because he is a local coach – unlike all Chiefs’ coaches who preceded him, who all had European backgrounds – and has yet to win anything, Komphela still has to win the hearts of those with reservations. The PSL’s inaugural season in 1996/97 saw Walter da Silva and Wellington Manyathi in charge, and Yugoslav-born Paul Dolezar was the first Chiefs coach to be handed the sole responsibility for the following campaign. By Christmas he had won the Rothmans Cup after overcoming Mamelodi Sundowns on penalties in a replayed final. In the League he had won seven, drawn five and lost twice in the 14 matches that had been played, and Chiefs eventually finished second, five points behind champions Sundowns Sundowns. Dolezar (left) resigned after two years in charge, announcing his departure for Sundowns during the pre-season Vodacom Challenge in July 1999. Kaizer M Motaung wasn’t impressed that the League title had not been won, with Amakhosi finishing second in both seasons that Dolezar was in charge. Turkish-born Muhsin Ertugral (right) then took over at the start of the 1999/2000 season. Heading into the new year in his first year in charge, Ertugral was already out of the Rothmans Cup, having lost to Hellenic in the first round. Jacob Sephooa had started off in charge for the first five League matches while Ertugral awaited his work-permit – Sephooa won two of those matches and drew three. When Ertugral eventually took charge, he won eight,
drew four and lost four of the 16 matches before Christmas, but notably lost to both Orlando Pirates and Sundowns. He eventually led Amakhosi to third place that season, a massive 15 points behind winners Sundowns. Ertugral did, however, win the BobSave Super Bowl in the second half of the campaign. A few months into his fourth season and after landing another three trophies – including the Mandela Cup – Ertugral was eased out, being placed on indefinite leave following a slow start to the 2002/03 season in which he lost three, drew one and won just one match. His issues were compounded by his failure to finish in the top eight the previous year. Doctor Khumalo and Ace Khuse then took over as cocoaches. Ertugral’s departure saw the appointment of Ted Dumitru (right) at the start of the 2003/04 season. It wasn’t the Romanian’s first spell in charge, having been at the helm in 1987, but it was his debut season in the PSL era. At Christmas the veteran coach had led Chiefs to CocaCola Cup success, beating Silver Stars in the Final, but had been knocked out in the quarter-finals of the SAA Supa 8. In the League Chiefs were sitting at the top going into the new
year, having won nine, drawn three and lost once. They went on to win the League that season. Dumitru stayed on for the next season, but resigned after two titles and taking over as Bafana Bafana interim coach towards the end of 2005 after Stuart Baxter had resigned. German Ernst Middendorp arrived at the start of the 2005/06 season, and by Christmas Chiefs had been booted out of the SAA Supa 8 in the quarter-finals by Bloemfontein Celtic and had lost to Jomo Cosmos in the second round of the Coca-Cola Cup. Though they eventually finished third in the League, they had won seven, drawn 11 and lost once in the 19 matches they had played going into the new year. Concerns were raised about the high number of draws, with many believing the stalemates were spoiling their title chal-
lenge, which eventually saw them finish seven points behind winners Sundowns. However, Chiefs did win the Absa Cup at the end of that season. With Chiefs falling out of the title race the following season (2006/07) as early as February and then being knocked out in the first round of the Absa Cup, Middendorp (left) was axed in March 2007. With the damage already done, Amakhosi ended the season in ninth. He had, however, won the SAA Supa 8 earlier on that season. Temperamental Turk Ertugral returned for most of the next two years, but was replaced in the winter of 2009 by Vladimir Vermezovic (above). The Serbian had a discouraging start in that truncated League season, with four defeats in his first seven matches. Chiefs eventually ended the year with 12 wins, five draws and seven defeats, and went on to finish third. At Christmas ‘VV’ was out of
the MTN8, having lost to Ajax Cape Town in the semi-finals, but was able to salvage some pride by winning the Telkom Knockout. He again won the Telkom Knockout in his second season, but was then fired in his third season with seven League fixtures remaining. Chiefs finished that 2011/12 campaign without winning a trophy for the first time in nine years. Baxter (right) came in at the start of the 2012/13 season and had a horror start, being massacred by Mamelodi Sundowns in the first round of the MTN8 and exiting the Telkom Knockout in the first round. He was, however, pocketing points in the League, having accumulated 35 from 16 matches at the festive break as he worked his way towards the title in his debut season. He also completed the double by adding the Nedbank Cup. The Englishman won the double again in his last season in charge at Naturena, but left for a job at Genclerbirligi in Turkey, which he ironically
lost after just two matches. Club boss Motaung then made a brave decision in getting a local coach to take over from the successful Baxter. Komphela has since reached two finals, but lost both. Chiefs went into the Christmas break in fourth spot, five points behind leaders Bidvest Wits. They are very aware that they need to offer more resistance and throw harder punches during the second half of the season to make sure that the championship trophy remains at Naturena. The Nedbank Cup will also be a must-win if Komphela is to win more sympathisers and extend his stay at the club. And with a squad whose influential players Siboniso Gaxa, Morgan Gould, Tsepo Masilela, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Siphiwe Tshabalala are all past their 30th birthdays, Komphela knows he needs to introduce younger and fresher blood into the team – soon.