Chiefs coach Komphela eyeing top spot in Premiership
Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela believes his team can still push on and overtake log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Steve Komphela (Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix)
Chiefs pushed to within five points of the Absa Premiership leaders after their come-from-behind win over Polokwane City at the FNB Stadium on Saturday night.
Amakhosi were made to sweat for their win especially after Walter Musona looked to have set the visitors up for an upset with a scorching freekick which beat a hapless Itumeleng Khune to give the visitors the early lead.
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Chiefs fought back and headed goals by Ryan Moon and Dumisani Zuma ensured Komphela’s side clinched the points.
“The five-point gap is good, we just need to kill two more games. We can’t just hope that Sundowns will lose two games. You have to concentrate on your own games and keep pushing and hoping that you can catch up with them and eventually pass them.
“The league is very difficult, there is going to be about four teams competing for the title,” said Komphela.
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Chiefs are now fourth with 26 points off 17 matches. Komphela’s team looked sharp towards the end of the match after the introduction of attacking players like Zuma, Pule Ekstein and Siphelele Ntshangase and Komphela admitted it was a good omen to have so many players fighting for a place in the starting XI.
“It’s a nice headache to have. But inasmuch as there was energy going forward, there are things we could have done better. The next match is different and we have to go back and prepare for it,” said the 50-year-old mentor.
Ntshangase, however, finished the match limping after a collision with a Polokwane player.
“Regarding the state of his injury, we are not sure yet as we are yet to speak to the medics but if it had been something serious they would have indicated that. We hope it is not serious,” said Komphela who was impressed by the debutant’s display on the night.
“We would like to have players of that calibre consistently on the field.”
