Komphela Cautious Ahead of Birds Encounter
24 November 2014
Maritzburg United coach Steve Komphela has been in the game long enough to know that log standings are not always relevant once the players get out on the park.
The Team of Choice take on Moroka Swallows at the Harry Gwala Stadium in an Absa Premiership facture on Wednesday evening.
While Maritzburg go into the game sitting in third spot on the table and unbeaten in the last four league matches, Swallows are currently in the regulation zone and have earned just one point in their last five matches.
The Johannesburg-based side also suffered a morale-sapping 3-2 loss to AmaTuks last weekend, having been 2-0 up at half time.
But Komphela won’t allow anyone at Maritzburg to get lulled into a false sense of a security with the thinking that a wounded lion can prove to be a dangerous animal.
“From a mental point of view, it might work for us, depending how Swallows handle the loss to Tuks. If you suffer a defeat from 2-0 up, it’s depressing and I believe in that in terms of log standings they will not have much confidence.
“However, it might also be a springboard for them, saying ‘listen, we have got to bounce back’. Make no mistake they have lots of individual quality players. So we can’t go there thinking they are bottom of the log, they have lost a match.
“It’s going to be difficult, but we have to look at ourselves and say let us perform the way we have been for the last 11 matches, and also be wary of the opponent.”
Komphela meanwhile added that he was pleased to see his defence keeping another clean sheet in the 0-0 draw away to Ajax on the weekend.
“From a defensive point of view we are organized well, we try as much as possible to protect our goalkeeper. Each individual’s role and responsibility gets clearly defined. And the other part of it is the manner in which we play we try and defend with the ball, we use the ball wisely which sets us on for attack.
“While attacking we are quite aware of the next moment, so we cover the field well. But we are aware that upon loss of position we should still be in a position to defend and this has helped us,” he explained.
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