Football
Nick Said, Special to ESPN 6y

Steve Komphela set for return with Bloemfontein Celtic

Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela is to make an immediate return to the hotseat after securing a three-year contract with fellow top-flight side Bloemfontein Celtic.

Komphela spent almost three years at Chiefs without lifting a trophy and resigned in April after fan violence following a Nedbank Cup semifinal defeat to Free State Stars.

Komphela said at the time he would consider a career away from football, but just months later is back in a job with a club that is considered to have great potential, though it has battled to live up to that billing.

Celtic are among the best supported clubs in South Africa, but financial difficulties in recent months, which includes the loss of major sponsor MTN, has left them cash-strapped.

That is thought to have played some part in the resignation of Serbian coach Veselin Jelusic, who took the team to within a point of a top eight place last season in challenging circumstances.

Komphela has enjoyed success at Celtic's provincial rivals Free State Stars during two spells in charge in the past, leading them to three top eight finishes in five years.

He was also lauded for his spell with Maritzburg United directly before joining Chiefs in 2015, and is considered to be among the game's great thinkers in South Africa.

His failure to win a trophy in his coaching career is something that hangs over him though, and he will be keen to put that right at Celtic.

The club appeared in the Telkom Knockout final last season under Jelusic, but lost 1-0 to Bidvest Wits.

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