Lamontville Golden Arrows coach Steve Komphela didn’t want to throw Mabhuti Khenyeza under the bus despite the results being poor for the club.

Komphela was asked what kind of mood he found at Arrows when he was appointed last month after the Durban-based club was slipping and sliding with poor results.  

Arrows had lost 11 games on the bounce in all competitions, triggering the Arrows chairlady Mato Madlala to move the former club’s striker on the side and bring back coach Komphela.  

Komphela was unattached after leaving Moroka Swallows where he was left in the hole and not part of the Dube Birds’ preparation for the resumption of the second half of the season post the Africa Cup of Nations break.  

The former Kaizer Chiefs coach ended Arrows losing slide, beating Polokwane City away early last month in his first game in charge.  

Arrows followed that up with another win by beating Richards Bay last weekend, nestling into the top eight.  

On Wednesday, Arrows’ winning streak and dream start for Komphela ended, coming from behind to rescue a point (2-2) against SuperSport United who had taken a two lead in the first half. 

As they salvaged the draw, Komphela’s side slipped out of the top eight, dropping one spot to the ninth in the table.   

“Coach Khenyeza and Musa Bilankulu had done a great job,” Komphela replied to Sportswire after the game at Mpumalanga Stadium. 

“After the win in Polokwane, we were immediately in position eight – just one result. From there, we played Richards Bay – consolidated and we got a point (against SuperSport). There were too many matches before we got the victory.”  

To a large extent, Komphela says losing so many games created a mental block in the players.  

“It does. You need a little bit more composure and have a way of saying, ‘Listen man, we are still the same person, all you need to do is focus on what is that you need to unlock, and luck will come, keep working’.  

“I thought it was a period of developing growth from everybody – and from coach Khenyeza. No coach in the PSL I think had gone 11 matches (without being sacked). 

“If you go 11 matches without a victory, it’s such a deep setback that will develop so much resistance because you can imagine match number five, number six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11 (you are losing) and you still must pitch for training, look at them, talk to them, go to the matches, field questions from media, pre-match interviews, post-match interviews, preparation – you need mental strength.”  

This is the second time Komphela has coached Arrows, having served from 2018 until 2020.