Sundowns and CAF maintain silence as questions mount over Komphela incident

THE breaking point of a philosopher: Did Steve Komphela “moer” the Angolan coach?

Did he or didn’t he? If he did, what exactly did he do? And why? Are there going to be any repercussions for his actions?

These are some questions that need answers regarding the alleged assault charge that Mamelodi Sundowns assistant coach Steve Komphela is accused of.

Football has a bizarre, deeply toxic double standard. We routinely let the instigators of psychological warfare off the hook while crucifying the people who finally snap and retaliate.

This broken dynamic is at the heart of the absolute media blackout surrounding Komphela and his alleged tunnel altercation with Wiliete SC head coach, Beto Bianchi.

Following a tense, goalless draw in Angola, Bianchi reportedly required 30 minutes of medical attention in an ambulance, while Komphela had to be escorted from the Tundavala National Stadium by local police.

The football fraternity immediately fell back on a lazy narrative: Did the “philosopher” become a thug?

What’s surprising though is there has been a blanket blackout of the incident.

A full week after the incident, both Sundowns and CAF have locked down information. Even worse, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso actively chose to downplay the brawl during pre-match press briefings, brushing it off as a minor issue blown out of proportion to maintain “cordial club relations”.

By treating a severe allegation against his own staff member as an inconvenient public relations hurdle, Cardoso completely failed to publicly defend his assistant.

Looking at the accounts from both sides, the situation reveals a classic “he-said, she-said” dynamic driven by immense emotional pressure.

Reports suggest that officials from the Angolan club publicly lodged a complaint with CAF. They claimed that Komphela physically assaulted Bianchi in the stadium tunnel, allegedly striking him in a “sensitive area” and leaving the head coach requiring medical attention in an ambulance. On the other hand, reports emerging from the Sundowns camp paint a picture of severe provocation.

Komphela, who is apparently fluent in Portuguese, reportedly understood and reacted to direct racist insults, verbal taunts and being spat on by the opposing bench. Given Komphela’s long-standing reputation in South African football as a calm, philosophical mediator, many commentators suggest he was pushed far beyond his usual limits.

However, what actually went down there hasn’t been independently verified as they are one sided coming from anonymous sources close to the accused party.

But it’s not enough to send out the fillers; we want to know what really went down in Angola. Unfortunately, those who were there have decided to keep it close to their chest as they seem to have sworn to secrecy. But this doesn’t help anyone. CAF’s silence on the matter is also deafening. If there’s an investigation ongoing, they must state so.

However, I find it inconceivable that there are those who are defending Komphela’s behaviour. I think they might have missed the plot because common assault is a serious charge which, on another day, could have landed him behind bars.

If indeed he did assault the coach, then he must face the music. The circumstances of his reaction are secondary. No matter how much you are provoked, you need to practise restraint and be a bigger person. How does “teaching” him a lesson help?

We have seen time and again how perpetrators, especially players, get away with murder while those who react always end up being the losers. Those who start a fight always remain on the field, while others are sent off for retaliating.

But, having said that, no one would stand being spat at, especially during this time of Ebola and other diseases. It is for this reason that I totally don’t blame Komphela for his uncharacteristic reaction. He was clearly touched in his studio, and his reaction said it all.

Being spat on is a degrading assault on a person’s basic humanity. Komphela’s reaction wasn’t “thuggish behaviour”, it was the explosive breaking point of a man pushed far past reasonable human limits.

The biggest lesson here is simple: never mistake someone’s diplomatic silence for stupidity or weakness. Every human being has a line that shouldn’t be crossed. While violence should never be the go-to answer, we must stop asking victims of systemic abuse to be the “bigger person” while their abusers hide behind the rulebook.

If I found myself subjected to the exact same vile treatment in that tunnel? I would have reacted exactly the same way. How I wish I knew what exactly went down in that tunnel.