Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela is adamant that his sides wastefulness infront of goal is being aided by the abuse directed at players on social media.
The Soweto giants extended their winless streak to five consecutive games in the Absa Premiership after being defeated 1-0 by Chippa Unityed on Wednesday night at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Komphela explained that players are taking less risks these days due to fear of backlash oin social media.
“Unfortunately we are living in the social media era where everything is in the players’ faces‚” he said in post-match comments.
“At the end of the game the player goes out and checks (what is being said about him). If he has missed chances‚ they say he is a cow‚ he is this and that.
“That player is obviously going to be affected emotionally and mentally and he is not going to be the same player in terms of trying to score in the next game,” he added.
The former Maritzburg United coach explained how players know what to do, but fear doing the right thing, because of the abuse they receive online.
“He won’t want to get into a position which is going to expose him because after trying and failing he faces abuse,” he added.
“Any coach must some level of skill of being as psychologist. You are dealing with emotions. If they are high‚ you must detect and bring them down.
“If they are too low and you feel they are just about to crumble‚ you have to lift them.
“When you determine what action to take — to lift them up or bring them down go Mother Earth – it calls for a certain level of understanding.
“At the end of the match‚ when the referee blew the whistle‚ you could see all the gold and black shirts (Chiefs) were down.
“The first thing that comes to mind is “what message are we sending?”
“You have to immediately there and lift them up because it is not only about the players going down but it is the depression they send to their own (supporters) in the stands.
“It is not only for coaches to inspire players but it is also for players to stand on behalf of their people. We have to show character‚ that we’ve taken it on the chin and we can say‚ ‘I still have my head held up high’.
“You need that because if you drop your shoulders you are depressing those who support you,” he concluded.
-This story originally appeared on SportsClub.co.za
