GOLDEN Arrows coach Steve Komphela aims to upset the apple cart again!
Abafana Bes’Thende hope to get the better of Mamelodi Sundowns in the Telkom Knockout semi-final at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Saturday.
The sides met in an Absa Premiership clash before the international break, which Arrows won 3-2 at the same venue in wet conditions.
Komphela, who lost the TKO final to Pitso Mosimane’s Sundowns when he was in charge of Kaizer Chiefs in 2015-16 season, is hoping for another rainy day to upset Sundowns’ game
After Sundowns went down in that league game 10 days ago, their coach Mosimane was upset.
Mosimane is praying that it doesn’t rain again because the stadium does not have a proper drainage system.
According to the weather forecast, Saturday will be scattered with thunderstorms and that is exactly what Komphela is praying for.
“I hope it rains,” said Komphela at the club’s media day at People’s Park yesterday.
“They are a top side but are used to bad conditions having played in Africa.”
Komphela says his players understand the magnitude of the cup semi-final compared to the recent league win over the Brazilians.
“The minute they hear me say ‘this is different game’ they are going to give you a different performance and you’ll get a different outcome.”
Musa Bilankulu, is the only survivor of the Arrows side that were beaten 3-1 by Orlando Pirates in the semi-final of this competition in the 2011-12 season.
Good news for Arrows is that Zimbabwe defender Divine Lunga returned yesterday morning as he was not part of his country’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday.
However, fellow Zimbabwean international, Knox Mutizwa, who scored twice in the 3-2 win over Chiefs, will return to Durban today. He started on the bench when Joel Antipas’ side defeated Zambia 2-1 in that qualifier in Lusaka.