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Cape Town - Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Pollen Ndlanya feels Steve Komphela will succeed as head coach of the Premiership giants, if he is given the time.
Ndlanya, one of the most prolific strikers during his time with Amakhosi in the '90s, claims some of the players in the squad have let Komphela down, and if the former Maritzburg United boss is allowed to rectify their poor strike force - they will challenge for top honours again.
The former Bafana Bafana striker highlighted the loss of stalwarts Tefu Mashamaite and Reneilwe Letsholonyane over the last two seasons, claiming it was always going to be an uphill task to try and replace leaders in such a short space of time.
However, despite going seven games without a win during the spell where fans called for Komphela to be replaced, consecutive wins prior to the mid-season break has seen the Soweto Giants creep back into the title race - as they occupy fourth place, one point behind the table-topping trio of Supersport United, Bidvest Wits and Cape Town City.
"Obviously this season Kaizer Chiefs didn't do well‚ I guess their performances were not okay‚" he told Times Live. "But losing key players like Tefu Mashamaite and Reneilwe Letsholonyane affected the team in a very dramatic way.
"It is up to the players to decide whether they want to play or not‚ you can blame the coach or whatever but it's up to the players. It was one of those things where the team is going through a bad patch.
"In fact‚ they were not consistent in terms of winning games but now recently they have started to do well.
"Steve Komphela has been in two finals and while he lost both of them‚ that was a good achievement‚" he added. "Give him a chance and I think he can do well.
"Chiefs create chances but they can't score. They need to put the ball in the back of the net‚ that's all."
