Steve Komphela will remain curious and hungry to learn, taking a step up into the uncomfortable to improve himself as a coach at Kaizer Chiefs, the new Amakhosi boss said when presented to the media yesterday.
Komphela – famously part poet and philosopher as much as football coach when he speaks – tried to convince a packed press conference at a freezing Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena he was far more comfortable on a training field.
The coach said it was a new environment he had stepped into from what he was used to at Maritzburg United, who Komphela has left with a year remaining on his contract, where he was used to a handful of journalists attending media briefings.
Komphela said he accepted the Chiefs job, replacing Stuart Baxter, to take himself out of a comfort zone by coaching a big club – he’s taken on SA’s biggest.
“Football needs curiosity. Without it you go nowhere and it is only through curiosity that you learn,” Komphela rapped to a spellbound audience.
“That as well has given me a sense of, there is a serious prize awaiting, but it needs great effort. There’s a saying that, ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’. This is a massive opportunity and there are going to be massive challenges, and I have to be ready for that.
“I’m looking forward to smelling the grass, donning that gold and black training shirt. That’s where I make peace. As for this , I’m a bit uncomfortable. My comfort is on the field.”
Chiefs have signed Komphela on a three-year contract.
“But that is just a number,” said Amakhosi chairman Kaizer Motaung. “We probably want him for as long as he can have the appetite to do the job.”
Motaung said there would be no other changes to the technical team.
Baxter, who has joined Turkish club Genclerbirligi, won two league and cup doubles in three seasons.
Former Chiefs captain Komphela said it was an emotional, if daunting, homecoming.
“When I came to the village I saw familiar faces. You feel comfortable and say, ‘my goodness, happy to be back home again’.
“That said the challenge is immense. I cannot make remarks without acknowledging the success of the previous season – it was unbelievable.
“Some might say, ‘why then move into a lions’ den?’. As a local boy, coming into arguably the best team in Africa will be a challenge.
“The comfort comes from the wisdom of the chairman. He has amazing wisdom selecting coaches. And not all of us are born champions. You have to start from Sub A to become a professor. This is the most difficult decision I’ve taken, the bravest, and the right-est.”
After years earning his stripes at teams such as Platinum Stars, Free State Stars and Maritzburg, Komphela has resources at his disposal he previously could only dream of. At United his team trained on the fields of a local high school.
“I’m optimistic with an environment like this, there are great possibilities.”
Komphela coached the SA U23s and was assistant to Baxter as Bafana coach in 2004 and 2005.
Steve to take bull by horns
Steve Komphela will remain curious and hungry to learn, taking a step up into the uncomfortable to improve himself as a coach at Kaizer Chiefs, the new Amakhosi boss said when presented to the media yesterday.
Komphela – famously part poet and philosopher as much as football coach when he speaks – tried to convince a packed press conference at a freezing Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena he was far more comfortable on a training field.
The coach said it was a new environment he had stepped into from what he was used to at Maritzburg United, who Komphela has left with a year remaining on his contract, where he was used to a handful of journalists attending media briefings.
Komphela said he accepted the Chiefs job, replacing Stuart Baxter, to take himself out of a comfort zone by coaching a big club – he’s taken on SA’s biggest.
“Football needs curiosity. Without it you go nowhere and it is only through curiosity that you learn,” Komphela rapped to a spellbound audience.
“That as well has given me a sense of, there is a serious prize awaiting, but it needs great effort. There’s a saying that, ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’. This is a massive opportunity and there are going to be massive challenges, and I have to be ready for that.
“I’m looking forward to smelling the grass, donning that gold and black training shirt. That’s where I make peace. As for this , I’m a bit uncomfortable. My comfort is on the field.”
Chiefs have signed Komphela on a three-year contract.
“But that is just a number,” said Amakhosi chairman Kaizer Motaung. “We probably want him for as long as he can have the appetite to do the job.”
Motaung said there would be no other changes to the technical team.
Baxter, who has joined Turkish club Genclerbirligi, won two league and cup doubles in three seasons.
Former Chiefs captain Komphela said it was an emotional, if daunting, homecoming.
“When I came to the village I saw familiar faces. You feel comfortable and say, ‘my goodness, happy to be back home again’.
“That said the challenge is immense. I cannot make remarks without acknowledging the success of the previous season – it was unbelievable.
“Some might say, ‘why then move into a lions’ den?’. As a local boy, coming into arguably the best team in Africa will be a challenge.
“The comfort comes from the wisdom of the chairman. He has amazing wisdom selecting coaches. And not all of us are born champions. You have to start from Sub A to become a professor. This is the most difficult decision I’ve taken, the bravest, and the right-est.”
After years earning his stripes at teams such as Platinum Stars, Free State Stars and Maritzburg, Komphela has resources at his disposal he previously could only dream of. At United his team trained on the fields of a local high school.
“I’m optimistic with an environment like this, there are great possibilities.”
Komphela coached the SA U23s and was assistant to Baxter as Bafana coach in 2004 and 2005.
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