Orlando Pirates assistant coach Rhulani Mokwena admits that he has learned a few things from Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela, but says he will put friendship aside for the Soweto derby.

The Soweto giants are set to go head-to-head at the FNB Stadium on Saturday in the Absa Premiership calendar’s biggest fixture.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns assistant mentor revealed that Komphela has played a huge part in his coaching career.

“I go back a long way with Steve Komphela and I have learnt a lot from him,” he said in a press conference.

“We engage constantly about football and the state of where it’s going. He is a coach that believes in giving chances and he has played a huge role in my career thus far.

“He is a super professional and a friend. Even in my discussion ahead of coming to Pirates, I had offers for head coach positions in the PSL and he played a part in my decision to come here,” he added.

Mokwena revealed that he has stopped communication with Komphela in preparation for the Soweto derby.

“I have, however, blocked him from my phone for the next week because we are still rivals. All the links and ties are removed because we are professionals and true to our core of wanting to win.

“When I was at Sundowns and we had to play Cosmos, we wanted six points home and away. And this is against a team I hold very dearly. Very, very dearly. It’s about the result on the day. We can go back to being friendly afterwards,” he concluded.

Photo: Samuel Shivambu/Backpagepix

-This story originally appeared on SportsClub.co.za