Chilli Boys set sights on their first away win

WITH four changes to his team, Chippa United coach Roger Sikhakhane is confident his side will bank their first away win of the season when they play Mamelodi Sundowns in a Telkom Knockout clash at Moripe Stadium tomorrow.

The Bay side’s form away from NMB stadium has been disappointing with the team having lost all three of their away games in the Premier Soccer League this season.

Sikhakhane believes with experienced players like Aristide Bance, Lerato Chabangu, Thamsanqa Sangweni and Daniel Akpeyi in his ranks the team will be able to turn over a new leaf. “When we played away some of our players were not available but this time around it will be a different story.

“We are going there to play with all our hearts and push as much as we can to win the game, so that we can progress to the next round.”

At the training session yesterday, the Chilli Boys seemed to have been focusing on their penalty shootouts. “You have to prepare for everything. We are going to a Cup game and you never know what may happen.

“Maybe we might go to penalties or the game might finish in 90 minutes,” said Sikhakhane.

He said his focus at the moment was beating Sundowns before thinking about winning the Cup. “Our focus will be on this one and then we will see how far we are going to go.”

The Chilli Boys will be up against it even more as they are playing coach Pitso Mosimane, who is under tremendous pressure to perform.

Sundowns fans called for Pitso’s head after their close 3-2 win against Ajax Cape Town, as they are not satisfied with the team’s slow start this season.

Though some pressure might have been eased after their 2-0 win over Jomo Cosmos, it seems Mosimane is not off the hook just yet.

But Sikhakhane said he will not change his approach. “We are not going to defend too much. We will be playing our normal football. We will attack a little but have more discipline when we defend. Sundowns are doing well currently, they have won their last two games and they are playing at home against us, so they will be dangerous.

“They are a good team with quality players and quality coaches. I am not going to say whether Pitso is under pressure or not.

“For me, I just have to focus on our game as Chippa United and see if we can get the result.”