Komphela hopes to break Soweto Derby mold

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Komphela has never won an official PSL League derby against bitter rivals Orlando Pirates since taking the reins at Amkhosi.

But both he and his captain Itumeleng Khune are desperate to break the mold, but without a deliberate change in approach or build-up to the much anticipated match

Chiefs are heading into the 161^st Soweto Derby against bitter rivals Pirates wearing the favourite tag and with good reason. They were on a seven match winning streak, but dropped two points in a 1-1 draw with Ajax Cape Town last weekend.

Chiefs are lying fourth on 34 points from 19 matches, four points shy of leaders Cape Town City with a game in hand and a single point behind third-placed SuperSport United, who have played one match less.

City burst the Sundowns bubble at the Athlone Stadium on Friday evening with a one-nil victory, while Bidvest Wits moved to second via a 3-1 win over Bloemfontein Celtic, but Gavin Hunt’s team still have two games in hand on the Capetonians.

Pirates are hopelessly out of form with not a solitary win in nine starts and are 10^th on 21 points from 18 games.

Komphela says the focus is on leaving with three points totally mindful of the fact they can ill afford to fall too far behind the leading pack. Last night’s results now make it seem like those three points are non-negotiable to Komphela and his charges.

Captain Itumeleng Khune says, while all the players realise the importance and magnitude of the derby, the approach has been no different to that of any other week in terms of the build-up.

(Video by Trevor Cramer)