No easy ride, only sky-high expectations for this coach

Steve Komphela compares his move to Soweto giants ‘like entering a lion’s den’

FORMER Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy calls him the “Special One”, a nickname that arguably the world’s best soccer coach, José Mourinho, answers to.

And just like Mourinho, Bafana Bafana caretaker coach Steve Komphela is a darling of the media.

This philosophical man has been dishing out memorable quotes since his arrival on the coaching scene, and it was no different when he was appointed the manager of Kaizer Chiefs two weeks ago.

When asked about his appointment as Chiefs’ new manager, Komphela indirectly compared his move to the Soweto giants as a man moving into a “lion’s den”.

“It’s a big risk. It’s quite scary and the challenge is immense,” he said unswervingly in a press conference.

The 47-year-old had every right to be scared. Not only would Komphela carry the burden of expectation that has sat heavily on the shoulders of successive Kaizer Chiefs coaches, but also the aspirations of many talented local tacticians, still squeezed out of the top jobs by a preference for foreign expertise.

While it is a dream come true for Komphela to return to the club where he was once a player and assistant coach, he is under no illusion that it will be an easy task.

His record as a manager is questionable. He enjoyed two good spells at Free State Stars but endured disappointing spells at Dynamos, Manning Rangers and Platinum Stars. He won a Cosafa title as coach of the South African under-20 team but flopped when in charge of the under-23s.

Since he’s become a coach, Komphela has been in charge of 224 games, drawing 70 of those games and losing a total of 75, just four games less the number of games he’s won, 79. He averages a win percentage of just more than 35 percent.

So why did Kaizer Motaung drastically change his stance by making Komphela the first local coach in 23 years to get the job on a full-time basis? It is evident that it has not been based on his accomplishments as a coach.

Komphela, who hails from Kroonstad in the Free State, captained South Africa, played every minute of the country’s first 22 internationals and brings with him bags of personality.

He has had a good apprenticeship, too. He was a schoolteacher-turnedprofessional footballer, plucked from QwaQwa Stars after being spotted by one of his predecessors as coach, Jeff Butler.

After playing 136 games for Free State Stars, Komphela spent a short time at Chiefs before going on to play in Turkey for clubs Gaziantepspor and Canakkale Dardanelspor, where he combined playing with appearances on a television talk show telling jokes in Turkish and singing local folk songs.

He has also been hailed as an astute thinker, who has definite ideas about the game. He holds strong opinions about opportunities for locals and his appointment is a chance to break ground for many others.

Komphela enjoyed a successful playing career at Chiefs when he was the captain of the team and he also sat on the Chiefs bench, assisting Muhsin Ertugral.

Having spent some time in Naturena, there is no denying that Komphela is familiar with the club’s traditions and great expectations. Komphela has also been labelled as one of the most articulate coaches in the PSL.

His experiences with youth teams over the years as well as with teams further down the league ladder have also been hailed.

Last season at his club Maritzburg United, Komphela was praised for the work done with unheralded names such as Mondli Cele and Mohammed Anas. His past season demonstrated Komphela’s capacity for improving players and allowing them to play with confidence, and also showed his willingness to place faith in youngsters and work with them to help them improve.

Komphela’s appointment at the Amakhosi means that the quartet of Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana are all being led by local coaches.

It would be the first instance of both the national side and the ‘Big Three’ of the domestic game all being under the stewardship of South Africans since the Premier Soccer League was founded in 1996. Sources: www.goal.com

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