Mamelodi Sundowns assistant coach Steve Komphela has finally opened up about the dismantling of the co-coaching system at Chloorkop in October 2022.
The coaching reshuffle at Sundowns followed their 3-0 loss to Orlando Pirates in the second leg of the MTN8 semi-final. The changes saw then head coach Manqoba Mngqithi demoted to the role of senior coach.
Komphela was promoted to assistant coach from senior coach and Rhulani Mokwena became the club’s head coach.
Addressing the media during the Nedbank Cup quarter-final draw at SuperSport Studios in Randburg, Johannesburg on Monday evening, Komphela said the dismantling of the co-coaching arrangement was necessary.
“I think it was a hell of a great arrangement, from the beginning,” Komphela said.
“In fact, it is the same arrangement that made the transition to where we are. Had we started otherwise, nobody knows if we would have been where we are, but looking at how it started and how it transcended, it got solid.
“It’s like cement, it first starts with fluid and all that, but at the back of the sun and all that, it solidifies.”
Masandawana have been agonizingly dominant since Mokwena became the head coach, with the Brazilians setting a new club record of 15-game winning streak in the DStv Premiership.
However, their streak was broken by Stellenbosch FC who held them to a 1-1 draw over a week ago.
At the weekend, Sundowns thumped 10-time CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly 5-2 in their Group B second-leg encounter at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
Mokwena’s charges will face Stellenbosch FC in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals, a side that put six goals past TS Galaxy in their round of 16 last weekend.
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