“We responded well after Saturday’s Derby loss,” reacts coach Steve Komphela after Kaizer Chiefs beat Golden Arrows 3-1 on Tuesday night. “It was important to remove the salt that was on us.”

Newly promoted Abafana Bes’thende has surprised many this season, displaying good football. “Arrows can really hit you on the break,” comments Komphela, before adding: “We played tonight more with our heads than our hearts.”

The Amakhosi coach was delighted with the performances of several players, including Kgotso Moleko and Hendrick ‘Pule’ Ekstein.

“There was an uproar from our supporters when we took Pule off,” says Komphela. “We needed to make that change, as he had indicated that he was finished. It was, however, great to see him give such a fine display.”

Ekstein was applauded loud by the Chiefs fans whenever in possession of the ball. “That’s how our supporters are,” Komphela explains. “They are a very close to the team. They know him from the MultiChoice Diski Challenge, following those games as well.”

“The Chiefs way of playing is in Ekstein’s DNA – the passing, the running… It reminds me a bit of Ace Khuse.”

The coach furthermore indicated that Chiefs have a squad of about 30 players and that, with the fixtures coming up thick and fast, it’s sometimes good to make a few changes. “Tonight’s game showed the quality and the depth we have in the squad,” he stressed.

Amakhosi are in third position on the log after the win over Arrows, having collected 17 points from ten games.

Komphela is not too worried about the Absa Premiership log at this stage of the season. “We are running our own race. It’s about a gradual process towards the end of the season. There are still 20 games to go. The league is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.

Next up is another Soweto Derby, this time for the Telkom Knockout semifinal Saturday, 7 November. The game will again take place at the FNB Stadium (kick-off is at 15:00).

Tickets are on sale at a cost of R80 for the lower and middle tier of the stadium seating. The ones for the upper tier cost R40 and children under the age of 12 pay R10.