Chiefs defender thanks Komphela

Kaizer Chiefs defender Daniel Cardoso has to thanked coach Steve Komphela for the role he played in his career.


Cardoso and Komphela worked together at Free State Stars before reuniting at Chiefs.

Komphela gave him a his big break at Ea Lla Koto after the central defender failed to impress at Jomo Cosmos, Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits academies.

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“He gave me my breakthrough,” Cardoso told Amakhosi’s website. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

It was Eric Tinkler, however, who moved Cardoso from a striker position to a defensive role during their time at Wits academy.

“I had always been a striker, scoring quite a number of goals, so I wasn’t too happy at first (when Tinkler switched his position). But it eventually worked out well. I love this position, because of the responsibilities and the demands it comes with,” he admitted.

Cardoso also thanked former Wits and Chiefs left-back Bradley Carnell for the role he played in reviving his career.

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“I was at some stage without a club and participated in a tournament in Soweto. Bradley saw me play. He was thereafter always convinced that I would make it and started to help me,” commented Cardoso.