Kaizer Chiefs captain Itumeleng Khune would not be drawn into Orlando Pirates assistant coach Rulani Mokwena’s mind games ahead of the Soweto derby, writes DEAN WORKMAN.
Mokwena got tongues wagging on Monday after he said that Chiefs miss their previous coach, Steve Komphela, due to his superior tactical acumen, suggesting that the side under current coach Giovanni Solinas lacks tactical discipline.
Mokwena, however, did add that the quality additions made by Chiefs have, in some way, made up for the loss.
Khune, speaking at a press conference building up to the Soweto derby, insisted that his side will not let any comments disrupt them as Chiefs are focusing on themselves.
‘To be quite honest, I read what coach Rulani said but I didn’t pay too much attention to it,’ said the Bafana Bafana No 1.
‘I respect him as a human being and I respect him as a coach, but we are focusing on ourselves. We are focusing on our camp and we won’t let anything from outside come in and disrupt us.
‘We respect his comments, but we will just focus on our camp and prepare for the derby. It would be unfair for me to compare coaches because every coach has his own strategies and different philosophies.
‘And we as players have to adjust to whatever the previous, current or even future coach asks of us, so we cannot really compare coach Steve’s philosophy to coach Solinas, it would be unfair of me to do that.
‘I’ve worked with so many coaches and I was able to adjust and do what I was asked to do. I think it’s definitely mind games, so we won’t let it distract us.’
Pirates and Chiefs will do battle at a sold-out FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon with kick-off scheduled for 3:30pm.
Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
