Steve Komphela Rejoins Mamelodi Sundowns Amid Technical Team Shake-Up

Steve Komphela returns to Mamelodi Sundowns as Senior Coach, following the recent departure of Mokwena due to internal disagreements. The reshuffling within Sundowns’ technical team has sparked curiosity and speculation about the club’s management decisions.

In a surprising turn of events, Steve Komphela has rejoined Mamelodi Sundowns as Senior Coach. This comes just days after the club announced an amicable parting with Mokwena, who had been under contract until June 2027. Despite Mokwena’s impressive achievements—winning the African Football League and the DStv Premiership in record time, and reaching the finals of both the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup last season—his departure is reportedly linked to a fallout with club sporting director Flemming Berg.

Komphela, a former mentor for Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows, had recently taken the helm at Golden Arrows in March after parting ways with the Dube Birds in February. His return to Sundowns sees him resuming a pivotal role within the technical team at Chloorkop. “Mamelodi Sundowns today welcomed Steve Komphela who will serve as Senior Coach and will assist Manqoba Mngqithi and the Technical Team,” read the club’s statement on Saturday morning.

The exact role of Manqoba Mngqithi, previously demoted from co-coach to senior coach when Komphela was named first team coach in October 2022, remains uncertain in this new arrangement. This latest reshuffling has led to widespread speculation about the inner workings of Sundowns’ management, which has faced scrutiny in the past, notably when coach Pitso Mosimane left for Al Ahly shortly after signing a new contract in 2020.

The recent changes at Sundowns have fans and analysts alike questioning the stability and future direction of the club’s leadership. The situation underscores the complex dynamics and pressures within top-tier football management, where success on the field must be balanced with harmony behind the scenes.