Chiefs’ season of misery compounded
KAIZER Chiefs endured another miserable day under Steve Komphela at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban last night as his team were beaten 2-0 by Free State Stars in the semi-final of the Nedbank Cup.
This was Amakhosi’s last opportunity of capturing a trophy this season, as they have already failed in the MTN 8, Telkom Knockout and Absa Premiership.
Their objective of ending their three-year barren run was pretty much sealed after 45 minutes, as Stars went in to the interval 2-0 up.
Mabhida and Durban (Kings Park Stadium) used to be Chiefs’ happy hunting ground, but not since Komphela took over from Stuart Baxter in 2015.
In his first season, Komphela became the first coach to lose to Mamelodi Sundowns in a final, as they succumbed 3-1 in the Telkom Knockout title much at Moses Mabhida.
In his second season, Komphela succumbed 6-5 to Free State Stars on penalties in the quarter-final of the Telkom Knockout.
At the beginning of the season, Amakhosi crushed out of the quarter-final of the MTN 8, as they were well beaten 2-0 by Supersport United, also at Moses Mabhida.
Komphela also suffered a defeat that had a huge impact in them bowing out of the Caf Champions League against Raja Casablanca at Moses Mabhida in his first season. The first leg was played in Durban, and he lost 1-0, before going down 2-0 away.
It is an open secret that Komphela is leaving at the end of the season, and maybe their luck will be back because this is the stadium and city where they have won the Nedbank Cup, MTN 8 and the Telkom Knockout in the past.
Stars reached their first final in 24 years. The last time they were in a final was back in 1994, when they lost to Vaal Professionals.
In that same year they triumphed in the Coca-cola Cup.
Stars will face the winner of clash between Sundowns and Maritzburg United in the Nedbank final in Cape Town on May 19.
Free State Stars broke the deadlock in the first minutes of the game through Harris Tchilimbou, who headed his side into the lead after a welltimed cross by Sinethemba Jantjie from the right.
Some Chiefs fans were still trying to get into the stadium when the goal was scored.
The game was played at swift pace and Stars were lucky to escape as two headers by Ryan Moon went wide.
Amakhosi should have been 3-1 up after 12 minutes, as Joseph Molongoane went one against one with Thela Ngobeni, but the former Chiefs goal-minder produced a fantastic save to keep his side ahead.
Chiefs were castigated again by the same man, Tchilimbou, after 33 minutes, as he showed composure and calmness to beat Itumeleng Khune.
Komphela showed signs of panic and desperation when he took off Philani Zulu and replaced him with Dumsani Zuma after 37 minutes.
Bernard Parker went close with header before the interval.
Chiefs created numerous chances in the second half, but failed to score.
On Thursday they were fined R250 000 for bad behaviour by their fans.
Towards the end of this match, their fans again began throwing missiles and vandalised the stadium property. So the team is likely to be fined again.
Players were forced to run away from the pitch as the fans stormed on to ground.