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Komphela hits back at Acornbush coach

Mbombela - Ahead of their “David vs Goliath” clash on Sunday afternoon, Kaizer Chiefs head coach Steve Komphela said his counterpart must have a certain level of respect for them when playing the pre-match mind games in the media.

Chiefs will face the ABC Motsepe based outfit, Acornbush United, in the much anticipated Nedbank Cup last 16 encounter at the Kabokweni stadium outside of Mbombela with kick-off scheduled for 15:00.

Acornbush coach McDonald Makhubedu has revealed his game plan of resting regular starters and utilise ‘fringe’ players for the Chiefs clash because they are not prioritising any success at the Ke Yona competition due to their upcoming National First Division (NFD)/ABC Motsepe relegation/promotional play-offs and this comment left the Amakhosi mentor distraught.

Komphela, however, said that he will not entertain Makhubedu by retaliating to his mind games ahead of their epic clash as he calls for all coaches to have respect for their counterparts.

“I don’t want to be involved in that. I have never been involved in mind games before,” bemoaned Komphela.

“Even if I do, respect comes first because whatever you say you are talking to a coach who represents a club or an institution. Or you are talking to someone who has a family, friends and associates.

“At Chiefs we always try to maintain a certain level of respect in our comments even though we feel insulted. The fact that someone feels disrespected doesn’t necessarily calls for your disrespect either.

“You still have to remain respectful even though someone is disrespectful but I’m not referring to the coach per say but it’s just a principle.

The Kroonstad born tactician also stressed that the ABC Motsepe based side must not be taken lightly after causing an upset over the high flying top flight side Cape Town City last month.

“I accept that his (Makhubedu) observations are correct. We don’t know their players or how they play.

“But they managed to get the results against Cape Town City fortunately for them. And that should send a strong message to us that they are a good team capable of winning.”

 

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