Kaizer Chiefs legend Doctor Khumalo has denied rumours he has an uneasy relationship with head coach Steve Komphela after being removed from the coach’s technical team.

Khumalo is set to be redeployed by the Chiefs hierarchy but has denied friction with the coach was a factor, despite reports to the contrary.

‘The real reason for the changes in the technical team is that Steve and Doctor were not getting along,’ a source informed The Star.

The source added that the dispute was only exacerbated by Komphela allegedly giving a team talk while Khumalo was busy on his mobile.

‘In one instance, the coach was giving a team talk and Doctor was on his phone. That was probably the biggest indication that they cannot work together and changes to the technical team had to be made.’

John Paintsil, a former Ghana international, has since been brought in to replace Khumalo in his role, while Khumalo looks poised to oversee the development of the youth squad.

‘I understand why people would think Steve and I didn’t get along because this thing has been out there even before he arrived at Chiefs,’ Khumalo told The Star.

‘But I can tell you now that the plan was to always have me working with the youth, especially after Baxter left,’ he added.