WeeklySA_AdminPOSER: The Eastern Cape side expected to up their game against the Soweto giants…
By Masoja Cele
Limping Eastern Cape side Chippa United will face the wrath of the much-improved Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership fixture at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha. Kick-off is at15:00.
As usual coaching musical chairs have been the order of the day at Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi’s team.
After only two months and two matches into this campaign, the Chilli Boys have become the first Premier Soccer to fire a head coach this season after giving the boot to Sinethemba Badela.
As if that was not enough, trigger happy Mpengesi followed that with the dismissal of assistant coach Musa Nyatama, goalkeeper coach Thembalethu Moses and analyst Prinil Deen. Nyatama was only on the bench for just one match against TS Galaxy. They lost 4-1 to the Rockets and that propelled Mpengesi to pull the trigger.
After the departure of the three technical staff members Mpengesi installed former coach and technical director Morgan Mammila as an interim coach. Mammila’s charges went down by a single goal at Richards Bay FC on Tuesday. Currently, the Gqeberha side are perched at the bottom of the Betway Premiership log with a single point after four games.
To plug the position of permanent head coach Chippa have enlisted the services of former Free State Stars gaffer Luc Eymael.
The Belgian native has been offered a one-year contract with an extension for another year. However, the well-travelled mentor is still waiting for his work permit.
That leaves Mammila in charge against Pirates. The former Baroka FC mentor will hope that his team will up their game against the Soweto giants. New arrivals Somila Ntsundwana (Richards Bay) and Goodman Mosele (loaned Pirates) are expected to carry the weight of the team on their shoulders. The duo is amongst the most senior players at Chippa.
A positive performance against the visitors could completely change the complexion of the match.
After losing back-to-back Premiership outings against Sekhukhune United and Marumo Gallants the Sea Robbers picked up and registered their first win at Stellenbosch (1-0). They followed that win with a great performance against Mamelodi Sundowns during the first and second legs of the MTN 8. On Tuesday, they beat newly promoted Orbit College FC 1-0 in a highly contested clash at Orlando Stadium.
The Buccaneers will be looking to improve their position on the log. Currently, they are sandwiched at position seven with six points from four matches.
The Soweto team is already tipped to dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns as the Betway Premiership champions. For the past two seasons Pirates finished second behind the Brazilians.
The Bucs underwent a coaching change towards the end of the season when the supporters’ favourite Jose Riveiro left the team to join Egyptian side Al Ahly. The Spaniard was then replaced by the Moroccan Abdeslam Ouaddou.
Having suffered two successive league losses he seems to have now turned the corner. New signees like Sihle Nduli (Stellenbosch FC), Sipho Mbule (Mamelodi Sundowns) Abdoulaye Mariko, Oswin Appollis and Kamogelo Sebelebele (TS Galaxy) have added more punch to the Pirates team.
All three have become regulars at the club. Sebelebele has proven to be a vital goal scorer. So far, he has scored three goals since he debuted for the Buccaneers.
Other players who could be a handful for Chippa are Tshegofatso Mabaso, Patrick Maswanganyi and Thalente Mbatha.
The Buccaneers will be without the likable Relebohile Mofokeng. The Pirates forward picked up an injury in a match against Sundowns and he sat out the Orbit College fixture on the stands. In his absence experienced campaigner Deon Hotto will have to carry the load.
