By Michael Madyira
Mamelodi Sundowns senior coach Steve Komphela has admitted that coaching jobs are always at risk after recent changes in the team’s technical staff at Chloorkop.
The club recently sacked Rhulani Mokwena as head coach, and Komphela returned to his previous role as senior coach.
Some staff members loyal to Mokwena left after his departure.
Manqoba Mngqithi has been put in charge of the first team.
With Sundowns winning seven consecutive PSL titles, the pressure on Mngqithi and his team is high.
Komphela admitted this on Sundowns’ Pitchside podcast: “We have to adapt quickly [after the changes] so that we can perform.”
He added: “I have been here before. We once lost one match, and although we played well, we didn’t get the expected result, and you could feel the pressure. But that’s good pressure. We call it the pressure of always having to be on top.”
The new technical team aims to defend its African Football League title and win all domestic cups.
Their main goal is to win the CAF Champions League for the first time since 2016, which was one reason Mokwena was fired.
Komphela admitted they feel pressure from both fans and club management.
“It’s not just Sundowns supporters. The club’s leaders are very demanding when it comes to delivering results. We have to meet high standards.”
During their pre-season camp in Austria, Sundowns lost friendly matches to German third-tier side SV Sandhausen and Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv.
While these games are not focused on results, there is concern that such losses might affect the team’s winning mentality.
Pictured above: Mamelodi Sundowns senior coach Steve Komphela.
Source: Golden Arrows
