Steve weathers the storm

The chorus of detractors who told those supporting him that he had no clue about what he was doing motivated Steve Komphela to weather the storm at Kaizer Chiefs.

Amakhosi are finally in calmer waters under the coach who was doubted before he took charge of his first match, inheriting a team that had won the Absa Premiership title in style.

The Soweto giants were more chumps than champs in Komphela's first season, which resulted in fans calling for him to be fired.

He survived and, this season, Chiefs are gunning for the Nedbank Cup and are in the league race with Cape Town City, Bidvest Wits, Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport United.

"There are a lot of good and bad voices out there," Komphela said.

"Many people could be coaching Chiefs. The fact that it's only you coaching Chiefs .don't expect them to understand what you are going through.

"It is only you who is in that position."

Chiefs' biggest win under Komphela was beating Sundowns, their only win against any of the teams vying for the championship.

That went a long way to removing the criticism that the club lacked big-match temperament since Komphela took over.

They will want to replicate that display against Supersport on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup.

Komphela has already set some unwanted records at the club, from being the first to lose to Sundowns in a cup final to setting the club's longest winless run.

"I strongly believe the greatest growth happens in discomfort," Komphela said.

"If you are too comfortable, you are never going to grow. You need setbacks to get comebacks."

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport