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Sundowns silent on alleged Komphela assault of Wiliete coach Bianchi

Videos of the incident on social media are fuzzy and do not provide much clarity

Mamelodi Sundowns assistant coach Steve Komphela during their Betway Premiership 2025/26 match against Golden Arrows at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, on March 4. Picture: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Mamelodi Sundowns are yet to comment on the alleged altercation that occurred between their assistant coach, Steve Komphela, and Wiliete SC head coach Beto Bianchi after the final whistle of the clubs’ 0-0 Caf Champions League draw in Angola on Sunday.

Brazilian Bianchi was allegedly hit “in the intimate area” by Komphela after a heated exchange of words. Some reports have alleged Bianchi racially abused Komphela after the 2026-27 Caf Champions League second preliminary round first leg clash at Estádio Nacional Tundavala in Lubango.

The Wiliete coach was reportedly taken by ambulance from the stadium and admitted to hospital. His assistant coach attended the post-match media conference.

Reports in the Angolan media confirmed the incident.

Radio Nacional de Angola reported, “The head coach of Wiliete Sport Clube de Benguela, Beto Bianchi, was admitted to a hospital unit this Sunday following a violent incident in which he was allegedly hit in the intimate area by a member of the Mamelodi Sundowns technical staff.

“The disagreement occurred immediately after the final whistle. The violent episode was publicly reported by the assistant coach of the Benguela team during the press conference.”

Reports note that Bianchi has been discharged from hospital. Neither club has put out an official statement on the incident.

Wiliete vice-president Vitorino Vicele has told the media that the club will pursue disciplinary measures with the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

“It is something that should not happen, especially when we are talking about two professional teams,” he was quoted as saying by the Angolan press agency Angop, via Kickoff.

“We will therefore lodge complaints with the relevant Caf bodies and the Angolan justice system.”

This contradicted the report by Angop, which stated Downs and Wiliete had come to an agreement after the match that neither club would pursue the matter further.

Videos circulated on social media of the incident are fuzzy, shaky and unclear and do not provide much further illumination on the matter.

Sundowns executive for legal and commercial Yogesh Singh could not be reached for comment.

The second leg is at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Friday (8pm), with the winners proceeding to the Champions League group stage.

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