Steve Komphela's return to Mamelodi Sundowns raised a few eyebrows, including that of former Mamelodi Sundowns skipper Hlompho Kekana, who believes there is a silver lining in Komphela's second stint with Masandawana.
Komphela spent his first spell at Sundowns between 2020 and 2023 in the same role before he was appointed as a first-team coach.
However, the former Kaizer Chiefs mentor called it time in 2023 and was later enticed by the now-defunct Moroka Swallows before heading back to Golden Arrows.
Ahead of the 2024/25 term, Sundowns announced Komphela as their senior coach and will assist Manqoba Mngqithi.
Mngqithi served as the senior coach under Rulani Mokwena last season. Even though Mngqithi’s current role is now unclear, his agent, Mike Makaab has suggested that plans are underway for Mngqithi to be installed as the head coach.
“Manqoba was the senior coach assisting Rulani. So, at this stage, Manqoba will take over as the head coach. And again, it will be clarified over the weeks to come and Steve Komphela returns as the senior coach,” Makaab said on Gagasi FM.
“It’s always been the case that they have worked incredibly well together, have enormous respect for one another. I think it’s a very smart by Sundowns to bring Steve back,” Makaab added.
In restructuring the technical after several members have been let go, including Mokwena – Kekana is pleased that the club opted for the tried and tested Komphela, who knows all the corners Chloorkop – Sundowns’ training base.
“He is no stranger to Sundowns faces, they know him very well. He was with the club, which is a positive because the players know how he operates and how he works. It is just a continuity of where he left off,” Kekana told Limpopo-based journalist Nathi Kubyane.
“By now he knows the mandate of the club. The club needs to be taken to the next level and I think we all know that the club will continue to win football matches and this is what we want as a club. Whatever support he is going to need, together with the technical team, they will get,” Kekana added.
Like Komphela’s kiss and make up with Sundowns, Mokwena’s departure was widely unexpected. Kekana played most of his Sundowns career under Pitso Mosimane, which explains why the ex-Bafana Bafana midfielder sounds reluctant to accept the change of guard in the DStv Premiership champions’ camp.
“A lot of us were surprised and we can all agree that change is not something that is normal to us, it is something that is very strange. When there is change, everyone is going to have his or her own opinion about the change,” Kekana explained.
“I always believe that when the change is positive, I will accept and always take it. But I don’t want to talk for other people because we take change differently.
“But what I love about this is because we will always support the team and the team needs the support more than ever,” Kekana concluded.
Erstwhile @Masandawana skipper @Hlompho_Kekana welcomes the return of senior coach Steve Komphela at the club. pic.twitter.com/KRgOqB0acB
— Nathi Kubyane (@Nathaniels15) July 8, 2024
