Mamelodi Sundowns first-team coach Steve Komphela has defended Lyle Lakay, who received a lot of criticism for his performance in Bafana Bafana’s 2-1 defeat to Morocco.
The Masandawana left-back came up against Achraf Hakimi, arguably one of the best wing-backs in world football right now.
Morocco used their system to exploit South Africa’s left side, with Hakimi putting in several dangerous crosses and even though they were often missed by his colleagues, it felt like wave after wave was coming via South Africa’s left defensive side.
After several on-watchers and national team supporters criticised Lakay’s performance, Komphela gave some coaching insights, insisting not even world-class left-backs could’ve solved the Morocco overload on their own.
“Lyle is facing three players Nr. 2 [Hakimi], Nr. 16 [Barkok] and Nr. 13 [Chair] or Nr. 15 [Amallah]. No superman can defend 3vs1 wing-play,” Komphela said on social media.
“The three-man rotation around Lakay is too complex to simplify (FB – full-back, CM – central midfielder and WINGER) are all rotating to get behind him.
“How do you solve that overload? Overloads need overload to be solved. Lyle needs assistance.
“Davies, Robertson, Shaw, Mendy or any world class LB – left-back can never manage a 3vs1 at this level. Please guys. The same was happening against France.”
When being confronted with the opinion that Khuliso Mudau on the other South African flank was having a much better game, Komphela insisted the two cannot be compared.
“Under circumstances, the two players are not facing a similar challenge. I don’t think we’d be correct to use the same yardstick,” he added.
