New Swallows FC head coach Steve Komphela has revealed how Mamelodi Sundowns reacted to the news of him wanting to leave and what it took for them to release him.
Swallows shocked the football fraternity on Sunday after announcing that they had appointed Komphela as their new head coach, effective immediately.
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The experienced mentor had one year left to run as an assistant coach at Sundowns and has explained how he broke the news to the Tshwane giants that he wanted to leave and join the Birds.
"You talk to relevant people. I think Sundowns has given one so much respect, so much quality in approach and even achievement that it would take a lunatic not to be grateful, not to follow the right processes in terms of requesting for or in terms of advice," Komphela said on 947's MSW.
"I did consult with the chairman, obviously the president would know about the proceedings and up until it now gets to a stage you have to cut the throat, which is the most painful.
"Because you fully understand that as you cut the throat, when blood spills, it does not only splatter on your toes or shoes, there's a whole lot of bystanders, people who appreciate the brand who are likely to be affected," he said.
"So you have to be very careful when that happens, it must be done with dignity and I think it was dealt with in a very dignified manner."
The former Kaizer Chiefs coach continued and revealed that the negotiations for his release were not easy, as Sundowns did not see it coming and he had to be patient before finally going for the "jugular".
"Not a fight, not understood either because when you bring something to the table, a discussion that is quite serious, it does trigger a lot, wait a minute, 'Where did this come from?' And you have to explain yourself and you strike some sort of agreement, you develop frameworks and you retreat a bit, you give it another shot," Komphela went on.
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"Because you don't just break sad news and expect the news will be carried forth, no. It will be a question of, 'Wait a minute, what did you say?'
"So, you try to cushion yourself in a manner that (you) can understand in the same manner it was put across. So, these processes went on and on up until as I said we had to go for the jagular," he added.
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Swallows chairman David Mogashoa also revealed, in the same interview, that he started negotiating virtually with Komphela a week before this past weekend, before they finally met in person on Saturday.
However, Mogashoa already had exploratory talks with Komphela's agent before he spoke to the erudite tactician and Sundowns.
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