In an unprecedented move, it has emerged that Steve Komphela is still earning his salary at Mamelodi Sundowns, even though he is coaching Moroka Swallows.
Sunday World can reveal that this was part of the deal to immediately release Komphela from his duties as assistant coach of Sundowns following an alleged fall out with head coach, Rulani Mokwena.
Impeccable sources have informed Sunday World that Mokwena wanted Komphela out of the team with immediate effect, and the only workable solution was to ship off Komphela elsewhere.
“Swallows wanted the former Bafana Bafana coach but they could not afford what Sundowns is paying him. They then agreed on this particular peculiar deal and Komphela will sit down with the Swallows bosses at the end of the season to discuss the new terms going forward,” said the well-placed informant, who opted to remain anonymous.
“Komphela still had a year in his contract and did not want to be worse off. He wanted the best deal for himself. This settlement was good for all the parties, and Swallows and Komphela will start negotiations for a new contract at the end of the season.
“Sundowns was looking for a home to place Komphela, and Swallows was the perfect team that was agreeable to both parties and the deal,” said the source.
Komphela joined the Brazilians soon after the departure of Pitso Mosimane to Al Ahly in 2020. He worked with Manqoba Mngqithi and Mokwena as co-coaches but in September last year, Mokwena was appointed as sole head coach after a coaching reshuffle that was necessitated by poor results.
Mngqithi was demoted to the role of senior coach and Komphela was given the title of first team coach.
Mngqithi remained with the team and is still Mokwena’s assistant coach.
After taking over, Mokwena led Masandawana to the semifinals of the Caf Champions League and won the DStv Premiership with about six matches remaining.
Said Swallows chairman David Mogashoa: “As far as we are concerned, we are paying the coach a salary. As for his arrangement with Sundowns I do not know.
“Whether he had a settlement with Sundowns for the remainder of his contract I don’t know – they could be paying him for that, I don’t know.”
Sundowns had not responded to enquiries at the time of going to print while Komphela’s phone rang unanswered yesterday.
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