Steve Komphela Biography

Steve Komphela was born on 1st July 1967 in Kroonstad, South Africa. He is a South African manager and former footballer. He is the former manager of Maritzburg United, and the current coach of Kaizer Chiefs.

Steve Komphela Career

Steve Komphela became a teacher by profession after he got his teacher’s diploma at Tshiya College in Free State.

He was a TV presenter and hosted his own talk show on television channel Canakkale Dardanelspor AS where he sang Turkish folk songs and told jokes.

Steve Komphela Career in football – Steve Komphela Qualifications

Steve Komphela started out at NSL Second Division side Klerksdorp City and later Qwa Qwa Stars which he earned promotion to the National Soccer League with.He made his NSL debut on 9 February 1986 in a 4–1 win over Witbank Aces.

On 7th July 1992 he made his international debut with a 1–0 win over Cameroon. On 24 October 1992 against Congo, his 7th cap, he captained the team in its second ever World Cup qualifier. He played every minute of the first 22 internationals. He captained the team for the 18th and last time in a 2–2 draw against Zambia on 22 November 1995 which was his 24th cap.

He later joined Kaizer Chiefs where he played all 34 league games and signed a contract overseas on 16 August 1993 moving to Gaziantepspor for the second half of 1993/94 season alongside fellow South African Tebogo Moloi. He retired in 1997.

Steve Komphela Family

His wife is Mamoepi Komphela and they have three children, Nombuyiselo Komphela, Noxolo Komphela and Nomalanga Komphela.

Steve Komphela Wife

His wife is Mamoepi Komphela and they have three children.

Steve Komphela Salary

He earns a salary of between R300 000 – R400 000.

5 Things About Steve Komphela

1. Steve Komphela hails from the Free State and was born in its third-largest city, Kroonstad.
2. He is a qualified English teacher, which would explain his elaborate use of the language during press conferences!
3. His football career took off when he went to play in the Turkish Super League. He played for two Turkish sides, Gaziantepspor and Çanakkale Dardanelspor.
4. Komphela played for Bafana Bafana between 1992 and 1995 and made 24 appearances.
5. His career has come full circle. He used to play as a defender at Kaizer Chiefs and now he will be working to defend their PSL title.

Steve Komphela Photo

Latest News on Steve Komphela

The highs and lows of Steve Komphela after 100 games as Kaizer Chiefs coach

Steve Komphela has been severely tested since his appointment as head coach of Amakhosi in 2015, but he is still standing despite the challenges he’s faced

Steve Komphela took charge of his 100th official game as head coach of Kaizer Chiefs against Polokwane City on Saturday, and everything went according to plan as his side walked away 2-1 winners on the night.

Of the 100 games in charge, Komphela won 42 [including the 3-0 walkover against Volcan de Moroni in February 2016], drew 34 and suffered defeats 24 times.

By reaching a century of games as the Amakhosi coach, Steve Komphela emulated his predecessor, Stuart Baxter, who also managed over 100 official matches during his three-year stay at Naturena.

Not every football expected Steve Komphela to stay this long on the job given his lack of ‘success’ which has seen the Glamour Boys go two-and-a-half seasons without a major trophy.

However, this is an achievement on its own, and Steve Komphela deserves to be celebrated.

Here is a look at the highs and lows of the 50-year-old’s period at Chiefs so far.

Steve Komphela Highs

When the Chiefs management hired Steve Komphela in June 2015, they knew that it wasn’t going to be easy for him to emulate Baxter. The appointment came on the back of a season which saw them lift two major trophies, but they took their chances and stuck with their decision.

Being the first South African coach to get the Amakhosi job on a permanent basis since Trott Moloto in 1994 was a huge success on its own, and he’s had to prove to the majority of football fans around the country that SA-born coaches have what it takes to coach a big team like Chiefs.

That was the beginning of a tough journey, and many didn’t think he will see out his three-year contract, which is now over five months away from expiring.

Steve Komphela: Two cup finals in his first season

While it is true that history doesn’t remember losers, Steve Komphela can still be proud of his first season at the helm where he reached two cup finals less than six months after his appointment.

It looked so promising for him that a few of his detractors were beginning to claim him as their own. It was unfortunate for him lose the two finals – a 1-0 loss to Ajax Cape Town in the MTN8 courtesy of Nathan Paulse’s penalty as well as the 3-1 Telkom Knockout Cup final defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns where Chiefs missed two penalties in open play.

Steve Komphela: Unleashing youngsters from development

If there’s anything Steve Komphela should be applauded for is believing in younger players, especially those from the club’s development.

Other coaches who came in before him hardly gave certain players a fair chance to flourish at Chiefs, and the majority of those players left without even kicking a ball.

A player like Lorenzo Gordinho was promoted during the 2013/14 season, but he was sitting on three appearances in all competitions at the end of the 2014/15 campaign.

Steve Komphela gave him, and many others such as Hendrick Esktein, Reyaad Pieterse and Emmanuel Letlotlo the chance they deserved, and they hardly put a foot wrong.

Recently, Bruce Bvuma, Wiseman Meyiwa, Siyabonga Ngezana and Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya have all been given a run in the first team, thanks to Komphela’s bravery, even during times when he appeared to be edging closer to the exit door.

Steve Komphela Lows

Steve Komphela: Two seasons without a trophy

It is unacceptable for a team of Amakhosi’s stature to go over two seasons without a major trophy, and if there’s anything Komphela should feel disappointed about, it’s his inability to deliver silverware so far.

This has obviously made him unpopular among the club fans, and some have already called for the club to fire him should he fail to win at least one of the two remaining trophies on offer this season.

Komphela’s bosses have already admitted that things have not gone according to plan in terms of winning trophies, but they are willing to continue supporting the coach until the last day of his contract.

Steve Komphela: Lack of quality signings

Chiefs made huge mistakes in the transfer market since Komphela’s arrival in 2015. One wonders how hands-on the coach was in bringing some of the players to the club.

The likes of Enocent Mkhabela, Camaldine Abraw, Sula Matovu and Bongani Ndulula among others, were never supposed to be signed by Chiefs.

Had Steve Komphela identified areas that needed to be reinforced at the time, and then his second season could have been much better. He is partly to blame for the club’s inability to sign quality players.

Steve Komphela: Three assistants in three seasons

A team is a reflection of its leadership, and Komphela would look back at his tenure and say, ‘I made some bad choices’. The chopping and changing of assistant coaches has somewhat derailed his progress at Chiefs.

He first worked with Doctor Khumalo, but the Amakhosi legend lasted for a single season, and was replaced by the inexperienced John Paintsil the following season.

The former Black Stars captain also lasted for a year at Chiefs, and the management, in consultation with Komphela of course, appointed Patrick Mabedi. This is proof enough that there’s no stability in the Chiefs technical team, and perhaps one of the factors he hasn’t won a major trophy for the club.

Steve Komphela Contract

Steve Komphela is in the final months of his contract with the Glamour Boys, but he’s not worried about his future at the club. Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung has refused to commit whether or not Steve Komphela will be handed a new contract beyond June 2018.

Steve joined Amakhosi on a three-year deal in 2015, and while he hasn’t delivered trophies in two-and-a-half seasons, his bosses have continuously backed him.

There hasn’t been indications on whether or not his contract will be renewed, with Motaung saying it is a work in progress.

“Steve’s contract is a work in progress. There’s a bright future for him ahead, but it depends obviously on the progress,” Motaung told reporters.

“We are still giving Steve support systems at the moment. We are still giving him tools to succeed. The only problem with Steve and his contract is that people look at trophies only. If you look at the plans that we had with Steve when he started, they have been implemented., in terms of development and bringing together the Chiefs philosophy. It’s coming together,” he said.

According to Motaung, the management is happy with the work that Komphela has done for the club so far, especially blooding in players from the club’s youth academy.

However, he’s aware that every coach is judged by the number of trophies they’ve won.

“Steve is helping bring back what we had; the Chiefs culture and philosophy. It’s bearing fruit in a little way, but obviously it’s a long-term vision for our [youth] academy and first team,” explained the Amakhosi boss.

Steve Komphela Video