Chiefs have to decide on Komphela’s future – Mkhalele

Orlando Pirates legend Helman Mkhalele says Kaizer Chiefs management needs to decide if they are going to continue with Steve Komphela as head coach or not.


Komphela has been under fire at Chiefs for some time and on Saturday, the former Bafana Bafana defender was pelted with objects by angry fans following a 3-0 defeat to Chippa United.

“At this point, one cannot really tell whether Kaizer Chiefs are heading in the right direction or not under coach Steve Komphela,” wrote Mkhalele in his weekly column on Phakaaathi.

READ: Komphela stays put at Chiefs … for now

“Looking at the situation at the club, with the results not necessarily going in favour of Amakhosi, it is now up to the Chiefs management to decide if they are going to continue with the services of Komphela or they will look for an alternative who will bring in new ideas to take the club forward.

“We have seen fans expressing their dissatisfaction and anger towards the coach and the players while the chances of winning the league get slimmer every game.

“However, I have to commend the players for displaying unity with the coach when they escorted him through the tunnel after supporters began throwing missiles. In that, they own the responsibility as well, acknowledging that they did not perform on the field of play which led to the fans becoming agitated,” continued the Pirates legend.

READ: Komphela is not the problem at Chiefs – Jerry Sikhosana

Mkhalele commended the Chiefs management and players for standing by Komphela, adding he hoped that other teams learned from Amakhosi and did away with lack of patience in coaches.

“It was not the first time that Komphela had received such treatment from the fans, but the players and management rallied behind the coach before and they did it again when they lost 3-0 to Chippa United. These are lessons that need to be learned by everybody, that when you run a club, irrespective of the size or popularity of the side, you need to understand that there will be times when you don’t get results.

“When the results don’t come, you don’t make instant and emotional decisions by firing the coach. Chiefs’ management have supported the coach but I am not quite sure that this time they will stand by him, especially with his contract coming to an end.

“Sticking around with the coach for so long really needs to be applauded. I hope the management teams at other clubs – who often sack coaches at the drop of a hat – copy Chiefs and do away with the lack of patience. If this approach is adopted by most clubs, it will help in getting to the bottom of the problem.”

READ: Chiefs legend backs embattled Steve Komphela

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