Is Steve as good as gone?

Two seasons without a trophy not good – Bobby

Bobby Motaung could not give a straight answer yesterday when Sowetan asked him if embattled Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela has the club’s backing.

Komphela felt the wrath of enraged Amakhosi fans following the team’s 2-1 loss to Baroka FC on Saturday, with chants of “Steve must go!” reverberating around the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

“It’s normal that the fans are frustrated and they want the leadership to act – I take it because I am part of the leadership,” Motaung told Sowetan yesterday.

“But we can’t just get emotional [in taking harsh decisions].

“If there is a crisis, the club will act. [But] we are not in crisis mode,” Motaung said.

“Bobsteak” himself was on Saturday confronted by furious Chiefs fans closer to the suite area at the final whistle, while Komphela and players needed a police escort out of the Durban arena.

Motaung conceded that the club was answerable to its followers, who are growing frustrated at their team that has already gone trophy-less for two seasons.

“We understand that two seasons without a trophy is not a good thing for a big club like Chiefs. We are not in denial.

Asked if Komphela has the backing of management, Motaung said: “It’s only seven games into the new season. Young players need to be given a chance. It’s a question of time and patience.

“The challenge we have is that we are not scoring and there have been injuries. We’ve been trying out players from Cameroon.”

He was referring to Julien Ebah, 25, who has been passed over, and Christ Mbondi, 27, who remains on trial.

Motaung said the team’s strike force was one of the challenges at Chiefs.

Their problems could be compounded by the absence of Gustavo Paez who was stretched off with a twisted ankle 30 minutes into Saturday’s game.

George Maluleka gave Amakhosi an early lead but Baroka responded with goals from Lewis Macha (23rd minute) and Gift Motupa (59th minute) to hand Chiefs their second Absa Premiership loss of the season.

The win shot Baroka to the top of the log, while Chiefs are sixth.

The exciting Limpopo outfit remains unbeaten after seven matches.

/STEVE HAAG / GALLO IMAGES The wheels came off for Chiefs coach Steve Komphela and his side on Saturday. Amakhosi fans are calling for his head after Sipho Moeti and Baroka came out tops .