The Glamour Boys will welcome Abafana Bes’thende to the FNB Stadium for a Nedbank Cup Last 32 clash, which is set to kick off at 15h30.
The hosts come into the clash with a seven-game unbeaten run under their belt – having won four and drawn three – and are arguably favourites to advance to the next round, given the visitors’ recent run of one win, nine draws and six defeats in their last 16 games.
Komphela concedes that not much can be made of form in a cup bout, but is wary of the possibility of a draw and hopes to get an early goal to relieve some of the pressure of his troops, who are going on nearly three seasons without silverware.
“Cup competitions don’t have a therefore, like any other football match, and this one is no different,” said Komphela.
“That Arrows have gone through such a record, it should not be a consideration. Yes, we acknowledge that, but it has no basis for us not to prepare thoroughly – we have to.
“Very interesting is the question that, will they buy time and play in a manner that the pressure finally comes to us? We have to avoid that.
“We have to go in there and play a sensible game. One, you profile the opponent and understand their weaknesses and strengths, and you have your own game-plan.
“But football is not won in five or 10 minutes, there’s very few instances like [Wednesday], where a goal is scored in the second minute, and a team goes on for the next 90-odd minutes and gets a result. Sometimes things change.
“An early goal for us would be a lift, but it should not then allow complacency to creep in. In as much as if one team scores first against another, it doesn’t give them the right to be winners of the match; it has to be played over 95 minutes.”
The 50-year-old tactician also urged his side to apply themselves effectively in order to avoid going as far as extra-time and a penalty shootout, which then becomes anyone’s game.
“With regards to how it is likely to pan out; if they were to equalise and it goes to extra-time, we wouldn’t love to see the match stretch as far as that,” he added.
“We would love to win it in time, so that our people cannot be under stress and anxiety, and also try – it is a time of the season where you want to – save as much energy as possible.
“I hope we finish it off in 90 minutes, I hope so. We just have to apply ourselves.”
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