Johannesburg – Original Soweto giants Swallows FC have appointed a new Turkish-speaking head coach.
Former Bafana Bafana skipper Steve Komphela, a one-time talk show host on Türkiye television channel Çanakkale Dardanelspor, has been named as the Dube Birds’ new gaffer.
The linguist also played professional football in the Turkish Super League for two sides, Gaziantepspor and Çanakkale.
On Sunday the much-travelled coach left Mamelodi Sundowns, where he was assistant coach, to join Swallows FC, founded in 1947.
Komphela has in the last two decades coached at Kaizer Chiefs, Manning Rangers, Dynamos, Maritzburg United, Free State Stars, Platinum Stars, Bloemfontein Celtic, and Golden Arrows.
Komphela is famous for the gift of the gab and Swallows fans can expect – apart from victories – interesting post-match interviews.
Speaking about the form of a team he coached in the past, the linguist once said: “Statistics are like a bikini, they dont reveal everything.”
Commenting on a defeat, Komphela said: “Victory has many fathers but defeat is an orphan. If you have flour it doesnt mean you have a cake, you need ingredients.”
Announcing Komphela’s latest move, Swallows said the club was “thrilled” and believed the appointment would take the team to the “next level”.
