Following the departure of Steve Komphela from Bloemfontein Celtic to Lamontville Golden Arrows, defender Bongani Sam says he is considering following his former mentor.
Komphela left Celtic and joined Arrows last week due to financial troubles at Siwelele.
Komphela gave Sam his big Absa Premiership break when they arrived at Celtic at the beginning of the 2018/19 season, leading to the 20-year-old playing 14 league games, and being voted man of the match after his team’s 1-0 win over Chippa United on Friday.
With just five more months left of his contract, he said that if the opportunity arose, he would consider joining Komphela.
“If the opportunity presents itself, I would grab it with both hands and join him [Komphela at Arrows],” Sam said.
In the same breath, though, the player assured Phunya Sele Sele fans that he was still 100% committed to the club.
“I am still committed to the team as I still want to achieve a lot with them.”
He described his relationship with Komphela as that of “a father and son”.
In a letter Komphela wrote to the management of the Free State outfit, he gave some insight into how badly the team was run while he was with Bloemfontein Celtic.
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It detailed unprofessionalism at the cash-strapped club, and spelt out and criticised aspects of how the club was poorly managed, which led to his resignation.
The left-back said it was difficult for the players because they were doing their best to cope under the circumstances.
Sam joined Celtic from the Ke Yona Team in the 2017/18 season, but was loaned to Highlands Park while they were still playing in the NFD.
He first got a taste of professional football at Owen da Gama’s club.
When his loan spell ended after the team won promotion to the Absa Premiership, he returned to Celtic.
“It was a great experience joining Highlands Park because that is the experience that I am using now,” Sam said.
“It was even difficult for me to come back because I was treated well there by coach Owen.”
He made his PSL debut against Chippa United in May, when Celtic won 2-0.
“I always believed my time would come and when it did it meant a lot to me. Although I was scared at first, as the game progressed, I felt better.”
In his third game, he scored a winning goal in the club’s 1-0 victory over Orlando Pirates in their Absa Premiership match.
“I dreamt of such special moments and when it came, it was unbelievable.”
When some of his friends back home in Motherwell in the Eastern Cape ask for advice, his says: “If you want to progress in life, you must choose the right friends.”