Komphela dismisses concerns

Free State Stars head coach Steve Komphela has silenced fears that his recent appointment as Bafana Bafana assistant coach will affect his club's performance

This comes after Stars, fourth on the Absa Premiership standings, put in possibly their worst performance of the season in the 2-0 loss to Golden Arrows in Durban at the weekend.

Stars went into the game only five points behind Premier League leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, before a lacklustre display dented their chances of mounting a credible title challenge.

The loss, their second in three games since it was revealed Komphela would assist Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane, has since seen Stars slip to sixth on the log.

"I've been there [with Bafana] twice before," said Komphela in defence of speculation on the cause of the slide.

"It's just an added responsibility. There is concern we must not lose focus, which is not going to happen. There is nothing special about it, except that we need to work hard and achieve our goals."

Komphela said his being seconded to the national team had been common knowledge to his club.

"We knew about it a long time ago, so it would not have affected us now," he said.

"Somebody could say 'don't you think the [Nedbank Cup] quarterfinal win [against Orlando Pirates] affected you as well', so there could be a lot of speculation. But at the end of the day we just did not perform."

Komphela said his team was sluggish and missed top scorer, suspended Edward Manqele.

"We left everything in Bethlehem; we only brought the shirt here and the shirt does not play football. We had no passion, no commitment, and we couldn't utilise space.

"We missed both Manqele and [Katlego] Mashego. Their absence broke our rhythm."

Komphela also said the "no two bulls can inhabit one kraal" theory would not apply to him and Mosimane at Bafana.

"We need to get rid of the myth that we cannot work together - that's just hogwash," Komphela said.

"People just speculate, and their perceptions do not define what is going to happen.

"I'll just have to work with Pitso like I've worked with Carlos Queiroz and Stuart Baxter before."