Johannesburg - In a dramatic U-turn, Steve Komphela has been re-instated as Free State Stars coach following the resignation of Sunday Chidzambwa.

The Zimbabwean has exited Ea Lla Koto with immediate effect and Komphela is in talks with the side he led to a top-four finish in the 2008/2009 season.

The former Bafana Bafana player departed Bethlehem to take over the reigns at Platinum Stars in the previous campaign, but a string of poor results saw him receive his marching orders.

Team manager Rantsi Mokoena told Football365.co.za that Komphela is not yet officially the new boss, but will assume control in the next few hours after all the necessary paperwork is completed.

"Sunday phoned the chairperson yesterday (Sunday) and verbally announced his resignation. He said that he had matters in Zimbabwe that he needed to attend to and that he couldn't do that from here," Mokoena told Football365.co.za .

Weekend reports suggested Komphela would be hired by SAFA as the Bafana Bafana second assistant coach, but his imminent return to Ea Lla Koto casts into doubt this job proposal.

Mokoena explained: "We then acted swiftly to go after Steve Komphela. I read in the papers that SAFA were interested in his services and so we had to act fast.

"We are currently on the brink of reaching an agreement and I expect that things will be finalised in the next few hours."

Komphela faces a tough task inspiring a Stars side who have drawn all three of their opening league fixtures.