It is generally a football tradition that a coach takes along his assistant coach with him wherever he gets appointed. We have also seen this trait in our local teams. However, this is not the case at Kaizer Chiefs.
When Steve Komphela was appointed as head coach of Chiefs, the former Maritzburg United man had an assistant coach in Doctor Khumalo already waiting for him. There have been calls for Komphela's former assistant, Mandla Ncikazi, to reunite with his former boss, but nothing has materialised.
Disagreements happen everywhere, quarrels take place all the time, and feuds – with an agenda or without – occur time and again, but in recent times, there have been rumours that Komphela and "16v" have had their differences. Whether the speculation is true or not, whether the said issues have been resolved or not, the pertinent or fundamental problem is the team's failure to produce results.
It is unacceptable for a team of Amakhosi's stature to go seven straight matches without a victory. This is exactly the opposite of what was anticipated after a sterling, record-breaking season.
Now, jumping the fence to the team's neighbours, Orlando Pirates, we have recently seen an unlikely bench for the past few games, with the absence of assistant coach Tebogo Moloi. Whatever the reason for that may be, the team has been producing results in the said timeframe.
If this hypothesis has proved true at Pirates, why shouldn't be the same at Chiefs? Maybe the results will come, maybe Komphela needs more control of the team, like his counterpart Eric Tinkler, without someone whom he fears might take his job breathing down his neck.
Do you think Chiefs should also adopt the same system as Pirates? Should Doctor step aside? Have your say below.
