NEW Bafana assistant coach and Free State Stars head coach Steve Komphela has silenced fears that his team will be negatively affected by his recent appointment to the national team.

This comes after fourth-placed Ea Lla Koto put in possibly their worst shift of the season in going down 2-0 to Lamontville Golden Arrows in Durban at the weekend.

Stars went into the game just five points behind Absa Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, before a totally lacklustre display dented their chances of mounting a credible title challenge.

The loss - their second in three games since it was revealed that Komphela would assist Pitso Mosimane - has seen Stars slip to sixth on the log.

"I've been there (with Bafana) twice before," said Komphela, in defence of the dip in form.

"It's just an added responsibility. There is concern that we must not lose focus, which I think is not going to happen. There really is nothing special about it, except that we need to work hard and achieve our goals."

Komphela said being seconded to the national team had been common knowledge to his club and it had not affected their form: "We knew about it a long time ago, so it would not have affected us now.

"Somebody could say 'don't you think the (Nedbank Cup) quarterfinal win (against Orlando Pirates) affected you as well', so there could be a lot of speculation.

"But at the end of the day we just did not perform."

Komphela said his team were simply sluggish and missed their top goal-scorer, the suspended Edward Manqele.

"I think we left everything in Bethlehem, we only brought the shirt here and the shirt does not play football.

"We had no passion, no commitmentandwe couldn't utilise space.

"We did miss Manqele, and (Katlego) Mashego as well."

Komphela also said the "no two bulls can inhabit one kraal" theory wouldn't apply to his relationship with Mosimane at Bafana.

"We need to get rid of the myth that we cannot work together, that's just hogwash," he said.