Moroka Swallows coach Steve Komphela has reacted to the reception he received from his former club Mamelodi Sundowns, during the Dube Birds’ MTN8 defeat on Saturday.
It was the first match for Komphela against Masandawana following his surprise departure last month.
Football-wise, it was not a good day for the coach and his Swallows players as they lost 1-0 at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
STEVE KOMPHELA GRATEFUL AFTER THE WARM RECEPTION
“First of all, I must thank the Mamelodi Sundowns family for receiving us well. Especially myself, it still feels like home, and I appreciate that,” said Komphela.
“From a match point of view, the red card that we got at the beginning of the match did not make our lives easy. But apart from the red card, I have a feeling that we played very well in the first half. We maintained a good shape, and we could resist sensibly.”
The Dube Birds were reduced to 10 men as early as the sixth minute after midfielder Andile Jali was given a straight red card. This follows a dangerous tackle on Teboho Mokoena.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS STILL FEELS LIKE HOME
Komphela says the handshakes and the love shown by the hosts towards him took him back to his days at the club.
“You have to detach, emotions are emotions, and they become the glue that you develop over time,” he said, referring to the moments before the match.
“There are lots of them [emotions] here and not only playing personnel, not only technical staff. Even the support staff, as I moved up here, I came across a lady who always used to give us food. She said, ‘Coach, where is my present’ and that voice tells you that it is still home.
“As we were shaking hands at the end of the match, I came across Rivaldo [Coetzee], Mosa Lebusa, [Sifiso] Ngobeni, all these okes, the handshakes are the same. I have one belief that when you shake a man’s hand, you tend to measure even the tightness, whether they have the thumb up or down,” he said.
“So consistently, I received that over three years, and it became part of my life. Now when I came across this again today [Saturday], it took me back to the same [old days]. So it triggers the emotions that we used to share,” added Komphela.
“You feel like you are still with them, and indeed I am still with them. They gave me three beautiful years, and I also appreciate the fact that I had been part of this family”
RELATED STORY: Steve Komphela outlines his mandate at Swallows FC
