Kaizer Chiefs' Steve Komphela linked with Benin national coaching job

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Wednesday Mar 28, 2018. 09:30

News coming from East Africa is that Beninese Football Federation have earmarked a number of caches to fill the vacant national team coaching position.

Among the coaches linked with the coaching job is Kaizer Chiefs mentor Steve Komphela as well as Atoine Hey, Pieter de Jongh and Patrice Neveu.

Soka25East reports that the former South Africa defender and skipper, who is no stranger to international football, has been touted as a strong candidate for the Squirrels post.

The former Free State (Qwa-Qwa) Stars defender, who enjoyed a spell in Turkey during his playing days, was also roped in as Bafana Bafana's caretaker coach back in 2012.

On the other hand, Hey has experienced over a decade in African football as he managed the national teams of Lesotho, The Gambia, Liberia, Kenya and recently Rwanda’s Amavubi.

Although it remains unclear when the FBF will name the new Squirrels coach, indications are that the National Executive Committee meeting in a month’s time will determine when candidates will be shortlisted.

The FBF is looking for coach Oumar Tchomogo’s replacement after his contract expired in December last year and the federation, through the advice of Minister of Sports Oswald Homeky, decided against the renewal.

Should Komphela be unveiled as th new boss, his first assignment will be in September away to neighbours Togo in a qualifier for the 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.

Benin began their 2019 campaign with a comfortable 1-0 win over the Gambians and will fancy qualifying for Cameroon with Algeria the other team in Group D.