United Chiefs serve the hurt
Steve Komphela sounded an ominous warning to the rest of the Absa Premiership teams at the weekend: “Hurt us at your own peril”.
|||Polokwane – Steve Komphela sounded an ominous warning to the rest of the Absa Premiership teams at the weekend: “Hurt us at your own peril”.
Having just led his team to yet another come-from-behind victory, the Kaizer Chiefs coach lauded his players for their “champion” mentality.
“This is a message to those who hurt us. You hurt us at your own peril,” Komphela said following the reigning champions’ 4-1 hammering of SuperSport United at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night.
Down 1-0 to a Dove Wome goal at half-time, Chiefs returned from the break to dismantle SuperSport and give them a hiding of note courtesy of a brace from George Lebese, Ivan Bukenya and Siphiwe Tshabalala (penalty).
Komphela was, understandably, pleased with his team’s retort. “The response in the second half is simply a sign, an indicator of a champion side.
“They are saying if you hurt us, we have the power to hurt you back. So, we’re very happy with the fact that they have a way of responding.”
That much was evident on a chilly evening that still drew a sizeable crowd to the World Cup arena as Chiefs overcame a first half showing that served to somewhat expose their lack of depth. Without three key players in Tsepo Masilela, Erick Mathoho and Willard Katsande – Chiefs appeared to struggle against Gordon Igesund’s team and conceded as Wome beat Itumeleng Khune with a fantastic ranged shot.
Matsantsa a Pitori could have extended their lead but Bongani Khumalo headed in from an offside position and many such free headers in the Chiefs box went wasted.
Igesund lamented what he felt should have been a penalty for his team when Siyabonga Xulu hacked down Kingston Nkhatha but referee Phillip Tinyani awarded a free-kick just outside the area.
“TV replays clearly showed that was a penalty and had that been given, we would have gone 2-0 up and that would have changed the game,” he cried.
Komphela, however, saw things differently. While he acknowledged that they struggled in the initial 45 minutes, the Chiefs boss believed his side was never in real danger.
“(They did) not dominate per se. We did not perform the way we did in the second half – all that they did was push their wingers to our fullbacks and their strikers to our centre-backs and our goalkeeper could not start at the back. And it became a game we don’t like where we have to go long. And when you go long you hit Khumalo and Clayton Daniels; they get the second balls and then it becomes an ugly game.
“Also Dean Furman was at the back of Bernard Parker, who could not breathe.
“After half-time we tweaked a little bit, we tweaked the structure and that is why there was more fluidity because there was more movement on the ball and our fullbacks were allowed to venture forward,” explained Komphela.
And they ventured forward with deadly effect as they easily put a SuperSport side reduced to 10 men following Furman’s sending off, to the sword – a clear warning to the other PSL sides.
Meanwhile, promoted side Golden Arrows continued their good start in the Absa Premiership when they beat 10-man Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 at the Chatsworth Stadium, also on Saturday.
A first-half penalty by Mabhuti Khenyeza and a second-half strike by substitute Ryan Chapman earned Arrows their second win of the campaign. The former champions could only manage a goal by substitute Themba Zwane shortly after half-time.
Ajax Cape Town moved to the top of the Premier League standings with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Polokwane City at Cape Town Stadium.
The Urban Warriors went top of the log following two quick first half goals by striker Nathan Paulse and defender Abbubaker Mobara.
Two first half goals for Bloemfontein Celtic by Thapelo Morena and Musa Nyatama ensured they defeated Maritzburg United 2-0 at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg, while Free State Stars registered their first win of the season when they defeated Chippa United 3-0 at Goble Park Stadium.
A brace by Andrea Fileccia and one goal by Danny Venter saw new coach Ernst Middendorp’s tenure off to a bright start. – Additional reporting by ANA - The Star