Free State Stars coach Steve Komphela has promised Ajax Cape Town plenty of blood, sweat and tears when they host the Urban Warriors in an Absa Premiership clash at their Goble Park fortress
in Bethlehem on Tuesday. Kick-off is at 3pm.
Stars were relegation candidates last November when Komphela joined as co-coach to Themba Sithole, and has been responsible for the team’s remarkable turnaround. Stars had only five points at
that stage and are now well placed on 38 points with five fixtures remaining.
Since he took charge, Stars have played 18 games, won eight, drawn eight and lost only two — both away games to neighbours Bloemfontein Celtic and Orlando Pirates.
Stars, who are in eighth position after beating struggling Thanda Royal Zulu 2-0 at Goble Park last Wednesday, are determined to finish even higher.
Komphela is taking no chances and trained his players during the Easter Weekend to keep his charges sharp and focused.
”Unfortunately, it is the nature of our profession. We cannot enjoy long weekend holidays such as Easter. But it is the job we have chosen and there can be no complaints from players or coaches.”
What will count against Ajax is the fact they battled to overcome first division club Winners Park on penalties after the teams drew 3-3 after extra time in their Nedbank Cup quarterfinal showdown played at the Seshego Stadium in Limpopo on Saturday.
Said Komphela: ”My plan will be simple. We will stretch them as much as we can. We are going to make them run and sweat for 90 minutes. They come from the hot north to the Free State. I think the pressure of having played 120 minutes in the heat and then the stress of a penalty shoot-out in the cup, plus all the travelling they will have done by the time they get to Bethlehem, will have affected them and we aim to capitalise.”
Komphela, the former South African under-23 coach, is unbeaten at home since he took control and is not about to dent that record against Ajax.
The Urban Warriors, on the other hand, have slipped
from championship contenders and are now fighting to stay in the top eight. They are on 38 points and have slipped to seventh place on the table.
Stars’ only non-starter is right back Tshagofatso Mashego who was involved in an accident and is not fit to play.
But the likes of strikers Sthembiso Ngcobo, Tebelo Mofokeng, Paulus Masehe and Thamane Mofokeng, are the sort of players Komphela is hoping will run Ajax off their feet.
But Stars have added incentive for beating Ajax. Explained Komphela: ”We owe them one after they beat us in the quarterfinals of the Telkom Knockout 3-1 earlier this season and then went on to win that cup. One thing Ajax can expect is we are going to fight for every second of the 90 minutes and we hope to tire them out by the end of the 90 minutes.” – Sapa