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Komphela has to adapt in the same way he is getting down to familiarising himself with being the head coach of the most popular club in South Africa.
The former Amakhosi defender will be partly an escort when he walks in to be greeted by the majority of the 90 000 fans at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but that will not take away that he will still be accountable in the country’s blockbuster contest that always divides families, classrooms, churches and even parliament.
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It remains the Soweto Derby – Kaizer Chiefs versus Orlando Pirates – a game that anyone standing with those in gold and black or black and white always wants to win, and on Saturday there has to be a winner.
“It is a strange format but one has to adapt because the essence of coaching is in adaptation. The format is slightly different and we are excited because it is the supporters that want to send the message to us as coaches to say this is what we like and then we take a cue from that,” says Komphela.
Still, though the voices in the stands, in the pubs, watching on television and listening on radio have the muscle of authority as long as they have opened a Carling Black Label product and sent through their player of choice by SMS, Komphela knows that doesn’t dilute the demands of the Derby, even with a ‘hired’ coach for the day in ‘charge’.
Sidney Molepo will be the champion coach in charge of Chiefs on Saturday with Komphela as a marshal, guider, supervisor or whatever term will suit his role on the day.
“You cannot pass on the responsibility. The fact that you have been given the unique opportunity of being the coach of this club, any result that comes will be pointing at you even though one accepts that it is more to the control of the people who wish to have certain things happening in a match, but we take it,” explains Komphela.
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“Pressure is always there. It is a question of pride whether we like it or not. I was looking at the statistics and we have played in this competition four times and we lost thrice and won once, and it is a reflection on us and not how supporters wanted to see things, so it comes with the territory but we embrace it and we are ready for it.”
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Get your hands on Issue 460 of KICK OFF Magazine or download a digital copy here to read Komphela's views on why Chiefs will remain an attacking team, his ideas on how to use the strikers, his plans to keep the defence tight, and much more!