Kaizer Chiefs will play their final Absa Premiership fixture of 2017 against Ajax Cape Town in Durban on Saturday, looking to make it back-to-back victories to make that Christmas turkey taste a little sweeter.
The 1-0 success at Platinum Stars was not vintage, but it showed again the influence of veteran stars Bernard Parker and Siphiwe Tshabalala, who came off the bench to set up the win. Chiefs coach Steve Komphela tells KweseESPN of their impact on the side and what the possibilities are of a new striker next month.
How relieved were you at the final whistle on Saturday?
It was relief more to our supporters and our people than us. It [the season] is never over until you play the round of 30. But this win will at least give us some confidence as we go to Durban to try and finish Ajax so they [the fans] have a good Christmas. The first half was not good, if it was during the day I would say it was because it was so hot, but the ball was just not going, the field looked a bit spongy. We were not as fluid.
The turning point came when you introduced your 'pensioners' Siphiwe Tshabalala and Bernard Parker...
I wouldn't say they are pensioners, these are great, experienced players and they helped a lot. You could see the cross [from Parker] and the finish from Shabba. They know how to read the game. Parker and Shabba ignited the team and we had some energy when they came on. There was more positivity and we were probing. Overall we were fighting for three points and that is good for us. You know how it is, even if you play well and you don't get three points, your confidence takes a knock. I wouldn't say it was an ugly win, but we can do better than this in terms of the way we play.
How tough a decision was it not to start them?
The decision we took by not starting them was OK. I cannot imagine that if we had started them and then played like we did in the first half we would have gone to the second gear. But whatever, Shabba is a winner! Last season he was playing at 10, great stuff, supplied a lot, scored a lot. This season because of the way we set up ... and we should not forget we are sitting on a lot of injuries. We don't have anything at the back, we are thin. We are setting up with Joseph [Molangoane] and Philani [Zulu] as wingbacks, and sitting with three centre-backs. Shabba in that set-up can only play as a second striker. Because in a 3-4-3, if you are planting him wide, then you have to compromise a fullback. The challenge is when the fullbacks of the opponents start coming at you. So there is a way how we use him and it is amazing how he covers space. He is so experienced.
Speaking of your defence, will we see any of the injured players back this weekend?
[Kgotso] Moleko has started to come back, Rama [Mphahlele] as well is gaining fitness, we are just at the final stages of their protocols. January we should have them. Then it will be the headache of what do you do with Philani, what do you do with Rama, what do you do with Moleko, Molangoane, it's a nice one.
You mention the defenders coming back, but Molangoane and Zulu have performed very well for you in the wingback positions.
The challenge with wingbacks, and you can go to Tottenham under [Mauricio] Pochettino, he will always have a [Kieran] Trippier and a Danny Rose, he will have a Kyle Walker and somebody else. You always need to have two wingbacks because of the distance they cover. Molangoane is covering that distance there and back about 100 times, Philani the same, and you realise that energy is not there but goodness me these guys keep on going.
There has been talk that you will be signing a striker in January. Will you be backed by management?
It remains a problem with not just us at Chiefs but the whole of South Africa to score more goals so that it becomes fun and you win matches. There hasn't been any ruling [on new players], but obviously we still have our eyes open and are checking on possibilities.