Steve Komphela quit as coach of Kaizer Chiefs just minutes after violent scenes followed his side’s departure from the Nedbank Cup on Saturday as Free State Stars beat them 2-0 in their semifinals.
“We have to cut this culture of ill discipline and delinquency. I have to be responsible and protect the players and administration and set an example that this must stop.
“If it has to stop with me, then it must be so. I am effectively saying to you that I consider my responsibility to protect everybody at stake,” said Komphela.
Added the club’s football manager, Bobby Motaung: “There has to be a reality check. We are not safe. We must take responsibility and own up and accept the facts. We have always honoured obligations.“Steve has done a great job for Kaizer Chiefs, but unfortunately if it is not meant to be, it is not meant to be. “The results are not happening. As a coach he knows we are faced with serious challenges. We have had discussions with the coach who said let’s do the honourable thing. “The coach is stepping down with immediate effect.”
The boys from Bethlehem rubbed bucket loads of salt into the gaping wounds of Kaizer Chiefs and laid bare the sorry state of what was once a proud institution of South African football in emphatic style last night.
The woeful display by Chiefs was painful to watch for their faithful who descended on the venue in their thousands to cheer their side on for what was a last-chance saloon for silverware in the three season’s of Komphela ’s barren reign.
Some disgusted Chiefs fans headed for the exit long before full time while jubilant Stars supporters waved a placard reading: Please give Komphela another three years!
Chiefs will fall foul of the Premier Soccer League as their fans rained an assortment of missiles onto the pitch. They were this week fined R250,000 — R200,000 suspended for 24 months provided they are not guilty of the same offence — for mayhem at FNB Stadium after a 3-0 defeat to Chippa United.
Last night fist fights broke out in the stands among Chiefs fans, requiring the intervention of stadium security and police. Hooligans also attacked PSL security, threw chairs and floored barricades. A police Inyala came onto the field as the situation deteriorated.Stars stung Chiefs in the first minute and sent the stadium into silence. The heroes were the first line of attack Harris Tchilimbou and the last line of defence Thela Ngobeni.
Tchilimbou powered a header past Itumeleng Khune from a crisp Nyiko Mobbie cross. The 29-year-old Congo Brazzaville striker completed a brace 32 minutes later.
Chiefs had two clear-cut chances to bring themselves back into the game on either side of the interval. In the first half Bernard Parker sent Joseph Molangoane one on one with Ngobeni but the Stars goalkeeper blocked the shot. Ngobeni was again brilliant with the save of the match when he kept out two Pule Ekstein strikes from inside the box.
With the victory Stars secured a place in the final of a knockout competition for the first time in 19 years when they lost to Mamelodi Sundowns in the Rothmans Cup at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
Free State Stars(2) 2
GOALS: Free State Stars - Harris Tchilimbou (1m, 33m)..