Komphela determined to prove his critics wrong
Chiefs coach hunts maiden trophy but worried about Wits semis venue
Steve Komphela says he is determined to shut out the “noise” over his inability to win a trophy as Chiefs await their Telkom Knockout semifinal against Wits on the weekend of November 18-19.
“You have to expect a lot of that but it is typical of the environment we are in‚ where there are a lot of opinions … some constructive‚ others a bit irritable‚” said Komphela.
The Chiefs coach is in his third season with the club but came up empty handed in his first two campaigns‚ meaning every time Chiefs are within striking distance of restoring their reputation as the “cup kings”‚ the issue of his winless tenure is raised in the media.
“One wishes those questions would not be posed, but we just have to remain focused on the job at hand. We know there will be a lot of that [opinion on Komphela’s record].
“One hopes we will just perform the way we do‚ get the results we are getting and that will respond to all the questions.”
Chiefs beat Chippa United 1-0 away in Port Elizabeth in Sunday’s quarterfinal and were immediately after the game drawn against Bidvest
One hopes we will perform the way we do and get results we are getting
Wits in the semifinal.
But Komphela did not offer a reaction to the pairing against the league champions.
Instead he said: “I’m not sure what is going to happen‚ whether they take us to Bidvest Stadium or whether they take us to the alternative ground‚ maybe like Mbombela.
“But I’m not going to say what is my preference because the minute I do that they will opt for what hurts you.
“We’ll remain quiet and see what decisions they take,” said Komphela.
Chiefs are looking for their first trophy since the league title success under now Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter in 2015, and their first Telkom Knockout title since 2010. –