Steve Komphela has remained vague about next season’s plans to change Kaizer Chiefs’ fortunes, but seeing Amakhosi’s rivals, Mamelodi Sundowns, clinch the Absa Premiership title with two games to spare on Wednesday night reminded him of his priorities at Naturena.
While the Brazilians finished the job at the Tuks Stadium by dismantling neighbours University of Pretoria with a polished 3-0 victory, the mood was sombre at the Calabash following a goalless stalemate between Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic - a performance that meant they had notched up the most number of draws (12) in the league - and it just about summed up their season.
“It’s a pity we have had to surrender the championship. We must acknowledge we didn’t do as much as our quality could allow this season, but we have to immediately congratulate (Sundowns coach) Pitso Mosimane,” Komphela said. “It only inspires you to say, (after) having won the championship the previous season and seeing it go somewhere else, the coming season should be more challenging, and that is why we say we are looking forward to it.”
These remarks, painful as they were - especially in the light of the gap between the newly crowned champions and the displaced PSL kings - came from a good place.
But it was no doubt a season to forget for Komphela. His side’s opening game in the 2016/17 campaign will surely set the tone for fans’ reactions to the expected changes in players. “A review will give an indication of where to from here,” Komphela said.
“But clearly you’d want to get rid of this season so you can move on because it has not been a successful one by our standards. As usual, whatever develops, the club will make presentations. A lot of work has been done in preparation for the future, obviously. A lot of work is being done in the background, and we have been taking stock.
“As soon as everything has been wrapped up, we shall outline our plans.
Komphela has to address several of Amakhosi’s shortcomings in a season that ends with a home game against high-flying Chippa United at FNB Stadium a week today.
Top of the list of criticisms in Komphela’s first year with the club has been that Chiefs lack big match temperament, or BMT.
Examples include the two cup finals - the MTN8 against Ajax Cape Town and the Telkom Knockout against Sundowns. Amakhosi’s key men did not really pitch on the day. Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung would have been bothered by those results,
However, he revealed last month that Komphela would stay on for a second season at the club because it would make sense to judge his tenure when the coach had been given enough support and assembled his own winning team.
The boss will also see to it that the squad is refreshed, but there’s a disclaimer: TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. - Saturday Star