Steve Komphela, former coach of Kaizer Chiefs (Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix)
Even though he failed to deliver silverware at the Chiefs Village, the former Bafana Bafana skipper will be remembered for his unusual comments during and after the games.
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Many might argue that Komphela’s analogies were taken out of context at the time, but no one can dispute that they made up for a good laugh.
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“In the olden days when Jesus Christ went through his lessons, he was never specific in his references, he would always use symbols, because whenever a symbol is used in a process where something has to be rectified none of us gets consumed. If I were to refer to someone and say, Mfowethu umnyama, I would put it like that because I am, but if I were not, I would put it in a way that has respect in what I am saying.”
When asked about buying players in the January transfer window to bolster his squad, Steve answered in the best way he knows how: “We follow procedures. It’s just easy, more especially for us at Chiefs. We could go to the same shop and buy mageu, but the prce will never be the same and at Chiefs you are required to give the best quality of mageu.”
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After a member of the Bidvest Wits technical team charged at Steve Komphela at the end of 90 minutes, Komphela was furious and said to SuperSport TV host Carol Tshabalala: “Carol, I was raised well, I respect people and I’m not disrespectful. But I also don’t like to be disrespected by someone. There is a white man here, it’s for the second time, last season he did it and I kept quiet. Again for the second season, I’m standing there, minding my own business looking after team. I don’t like to be disrespected. I have a lot of respect, I don’t need anybody losing their respect, I don’t need any disrespect.”
Responding to a question about celebrating a win Komphela said: “Never emotional intelligence is something that we have to carry because, the difference between chalk and cheese much as they are white is huge. The difference between me going under the roof with heavy insults and not is also very small, so it should not change how you see things> Just have to keep focus, take it still don’t be excited, we haven’t done anything so we just have to take three points and move on”
Komphela was left frustrated by his side when they couldn’t convert all the changes they had created in a 2-2 draw with Free State Stars.
“The minute you start playing long balls it becomes scrappy and that’s football from Mars, and we don’t play football from Mars. We play football on the grass and that’s why it is lush and green here. It was an easy match to win yet another draw…”
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