Steve Komphela downplays value of personal accolades

Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela says he has no place for personal accolades at home, and should he win the Nedbank Cup he would throw that medal away.

Komphela has been under copious amounts of pressure to deliver a trophy to Naturena in his third season at the helm, and failure to do so could all but confirm the end of his spell at the club.

Chiefs have gone nearly three barren seasons under the former junior national team mentor, who took over on the back of three largely fruitful years under current Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter.

Despite the supporters openly expressing their distaste for Komphela, he has continued to endure the pressure under trying circumstances for what he explains as “the process”.

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With Chiefs players mindful that the end for Komphela is near, some have expressed their desire to lift the Nedbank Cup as a potential parting gift for their coach, who is yet to earn a winner’s medal in his coaching career.

However, while accepting the support and acknowledgement, Komphela insists he does not expect such “favour” from his charges.

“If you’re looking at sympathy, you will always expect it, and you’ll be living in pain; If you seek sympathy, you will forever be in pain because you expect some favour,” stressed Komphela, regarding players’ comments on winning the Nedbank Cup for him.

“At the back of expectation, if it doesn’t come, is disappointment, and disappointment is painful. So, no expectations. We carry on with our jobs.  We’re professionals, we have a responsibility to perform our duties.

“But it is pleasing that people you work with value a little bit of the interaction you have with them – the work that you share. There’s a lot of stuff that people who work very close to one another share and get attached to.

“That then gives you more of a reinforcement, which then gives you energy to work even harder.”

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The flamboyant tactician further asserted that he has a responsibility within football, and outside of his job as Chiefs coach, which is greater than collecting winners’ medals, but would welcome silverware for the club and the supporters instead.

“Personally, I don’t want to lie to you, as a professional, I work IN football and I work FOR Chiefs. The first thing that has to come to my mind is that I work for Chiefs, but I work in football,” he explained.

“The working in football then opens the horizon for any stress levels in case of any other thinking that is negative. So, you can feel comfortable that you’re working in the football industry but currently focussed on Kaizer Chiefs.

“I would love to see the players win it for our supporters and, God willing, if all that could be or when that [honour] happens, I don’t think you’ll come to my place and see a medal, or whatever, I throw those things away myself.”