Steve Komphela's performance as Kaizer Chiefs coach can only be reviewed at the end of the season, team manager Bobby Motaung said yesterday, insisting that sacking him would reduce Amakhosi to a "circus".
Motaung was reacting to widespread discontent among the Chiefs faithful following Wednesday's 3-1 Telkom Knockout loss to Mamelodi Sundowns, which was Komphela's second cup final defeat in three months.
"At the end of the day one team had to lose, and unfortunately it was us," Motaung said.
"But we can't react with emotions to this situation. We are not running a circus here, where we would dismiss the coach based on a loss in the final.
"We will sit at the end of the season and review the performance of everyone, including the coach."
While emphasising that a first final defeat to the Brazilians was painful, Motaung echoed Komphela's post-match comments that Chiefs had the better chances in Wednesday's game at Moses Mabhida Stadium. "No one should be blamed for our loss, but it is a fact that we missed two penalties and several one-on-one opportunities. It's not the coach who missed those chances," Motaung said.
"It hurts that we lost, but Sundowns took their chances and that's how football works.
"We have a contract with him. We have set goals for him and he's part of the long-term plan.
"We can't be panicking now. As much as it hurts that we lost, these things happen and anyone who understands football will see that we had the better chances."
Motaung's emphatic backing of Komphela, whom some Chiefs fans have branded an underachiever - Wednesday's loss was his third straight defeat in cup finals as a coach - should take some pressure off the coach going into tomorrow's Absa Premiership fixture against table-topping Bidvest Wits.
But even if that clash produces another defeat, it seems unlikely Chiefs will give in to enraged fans' whims. "We are not in the business of pushing panic buttons every time we lose," Motaung said. "This is the same coach who got us to two finals.
"So had we won those, what would the fans have said? Give him a 10-year contract? Losing doesn't mean he's not good enough. Football is a collective sport. We have to look at ways to ensure we rectify our mistakes."
l See Page 42
Chiefs not in a panic just yet
Steve Komphela's performance as Kaizer Chiefs coach can only be reviewed at the end of the season, team manager Bobby Motaung said yesterday, insisting that sacking him would reduce Amakhosi to a "circus".
Motaung was reacting to widespread discontent among the Chiefs faithful following Wednesday's 3-1 Telkom Knockout loss to Mamelodi Sundowns, which was Komphela's second cup final defeat in three months.
"At the end of the day one team had to lose, and unfortunately it was us," Motaung said.
"But we can't react with emotions to this situation. We are not running a circus here, where we would dismiss the coach based on a loss in the final.
"We will sit at the end of the season and review the performance of everyone, including the coach."
While emphasising that a first final defeat to the Brazilians was painful, Motaung echoed Komphela's post-match comments that Chiefs had the better chances in Wednesday's game at Moses Mabhida Stadium. "No one should be blamed for our loss, but it is a fact that we missed two penalties and several one-on-one opportunities. It's not the coach who missed those chances," Motaung said.
"It hurts that we lost, but Sundowns took their chances and that's how football works.
"We have a contract with him. We have set goals for him and he's part of the long-term plan.
"We can't be panicking now. As much as it hurts that we lost, these things happen and anyone who understands football will see that we had the better chances."
Motaung's emphatic backing of Komphela, whom some Chiefs fans have branded an underachiever - Wednesday's loss was his third straight defeat in cup finals as a coach - should take some pressure off the coach going into tomorrow's Absa Premiership fixture against table-topping Bidvest Wits.
But even if that clash produces another defeat, it seems unlikely Chiefs will give in to enraged fans' whims. "We are not in the business of pushing panic buttons every time we lose," Motaung said. "This is the same coach who got us to two finals.
"So had we won those, what would the fans have said? Give him a 10-year contract? Losing doesn't mean he's not good enough. Football is a collective sport. We have to look at ways to ensure we rectify our mistakes."
l See Page 42
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