JOHANNESBURG – Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane suggested he did his Kaizer Chiefs opposite number Steve Komphela a favour by losing 2-1 in a hotly contested Absa Premiership clash between the two sides at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday night.
The win pushed Amakhosi to third place on the log table and gave the embattled Komphela a much-needed reprieve, while the Brazilians dropped to seventh position, although they have three games in hand.
“There is always drama when we play against Chiefs. I said that if I have to lose this game and I lose it to Steve Komphela, I am happy. He deserves a break, a reliever. He is my brother,” Mosimane said in his post-match press conference.
“Black coaches are very few in the PSL, and there are always overseas coaches coming in. We are short. Last year I lost a game to Serame (Letsoaka) at Bloemfontein Celtic, and I said I am happy to lose the game to Serame.
“It’s fine, he’s my brother. So, I am trying to protect also. It is not the first time I speak about Steve – I want him to stay on the job because I know there will be somebody from Europe coming (if he is sacked).
“I can’t have the cake and eat it (alone), sometimes you’ve got to share. And I hope he wins again on Saturday (Chiefs face Orlando Pirates in the Soweto Derby).”
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane thinks a European coach would come in if Steve Komphela were to be fired by Kaizer Chiefs. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Komphela has been under pressure since his tenure at Amakhosi began in August 2015 because he is yet to win a trophy at a club often refereed to as the ‘Cup Kings’ of South African football.
The shock 2-1 league defeat to Baroka FC prior to the international week had also led to the belief that he would be sent packing by Chiefs were he to lose against Sundowns and Pirates in the same week.
Tuesday’s win – and impressive performance – has certainly guaranteed that he stays on the Chiefs payroll a little longer.
@superjourno