Mamelodi Sundowns silent after alleged Steve Komphela incident with Wiliete coach

Mamelodi Sundowns have not commented on an alleged altercation involving assistant coach Steve Komphela and Wiliete SC head coach Beto Bianchi after Sunday’s 0-0 Caf Champions League draw in Angola.

Brazilian coach Bianchi was allegedly struck “in the intimate area” by Komphela following a heated exchange after the final whistle at Estadio Nacional Tundavala in Lubango.

Some reports have also alleged that Bianchi racially abused Komphela after the 2026-27 Caf Champions League second preliminary round first-leg match. No official account of the incident has been issued by either club.

Bianchi was reportedly taken from the stadium by ambulance and admitted to hospital. His assistant coach represented Wiliete at the post-match media conference, where the incident was discussed.

Radio Nacional de Angola reported: “The head coach of Wiliete Sport Clube de Benguela, Beto Bianchi, was admitted to a hospital unit this Sunday following a violent incident in which he was allegedly hit in the intimate area by a member of the Mamelodi Sundowns technical staff.

“The disagreement occurred immediately after the final whistle. The violent episode was publicly reported by the assistant coach of the Benguela team during the press conference.”

Angolan media reports later said Bianchi had been discharged from hospital.

Wiliete vice-president Vitorino Vicele said the club intended to seek disciplinary action through the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

“It is something that should not happen, especially when we are talking about two professional teams,” he was quoted as saying by the Angolan press agency Angop, via Kickoff.

“We will therefore lodge complaints with the relevant Caf bodies and the Angolan justice system.”

Vicele’s comments conflicted with an Angop report claiming that Mamelodi Sundowns and Wiliete had agreed after the match not to pursue the matter further.

Footage of the alleged incident shared on social media is unclear, with the videos described as fuzzy and shaky. They do not provide a definitive account of what happened.

Sundowns executive for legal and commercial Yogesh Singh could not be reached for comment.

The second leg will be played at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Friday at 8pm. The winners will advance to the Champions League group stage.

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Kwaku Nii
Kwaku Nii is an experienced football writer with a strong background in African football reporting. He has spent over five years working as a freelance journalist, covering matches, transfers and key developments across the continent.He is university educated and has built a reputation for his deep knowledge of the African game, supported by a wide network of contacts within the football industry.Kwaku brings valuable insight, consistency and on-the-ground perspective to his reporting, making him a trusted voice in covering African football stories.He is currently a Staff Writer at African.Football, where he contributes to delivering informed, engaging and reliable football content to a global audience.

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