Chilli Boys look to right the wrongs
Moloi in search of maximum points against SuperSport
CHIPPA United caretaker coach Teboho Moloi said his troops will be fighting to get maximum points from their Premier Soccer League fixture against SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium tonight (kick-off 7.30pm).
The Port Elizabeth side have had a busy schedule since returning from their two-week international break.
Tonight’s game will be their third match in seven days.
Chippa were able to get a point from their previous league fixture in a boring goalless draw against Platinum Stars on the weekend.
“We are playing away and a point away will be a good enough result. But, not all the games are away some we need to go for the three points. Three points tonight will be a bonus for us but we are gaining for maximum points,” he said.
Moloi was announced last week as the club’s new caretaker coach after the sacking of Dan Malesela.
He said getting the players confidence levels back up from their disappointing 3-1 to Baroka was his main priority at the moment.
“It’s going to be a difficult game playing against SuperSport who have been playing good brand of football so far. They are also playing in the Africa Cup, so they are coming with a lot of experience and confidence.
“The games are coming quick now we are playing our third game in seven days. We need to work on confidence and self-belief.
“If you look at the Platinum Stars game, our passing was not up to scratch and the normal type of football that we play was not there.
“So, it can be that the guys were panicking or not confident because they were coming from the big loss [31 defeat against Baroka]. You must understand that when Chippa loses it’s either 1-0 or 2-1 the 3-1 might have been a shock.
“The guys were not themselves, they were more worried about the result then going out there and playing well.
“They now understand that before each and every game you have a point in your hand, why throw that point away? You should fight for the other two points that you don’t have.”
Moloi said he is confident that once his players confidence levels are back high they will return to their old style of play that the team is known for.
He said the players needed to be confident and go out there tonight knowing that getting three points is possible if not than a draw.
Chippa will play without midfieldgeneral Mark Mayambela due to injury.
Moloi said that is the only change he will be making from the starting lineup that played Dikwena over the weekend.
Coach Eric Tinkler has managed to retain SuperSport’s solid‚ if unspectacular‚ form this season‚ with their seven matches in all competitions providing four wins‚ two draws and a single defeat – which includes a run to next month’s MTN8 final against Cape Town City.
And as much as Tinkler will be focused on three points in this clash‚ he will also have an eye on a difficult away day on Saturday when Matsatantsa travel to Zambian champions Zesco United for the second leg of their African Confederation Cup quarterfinal in Ndola.
“What becomes important is how we rest the players in between and how we assess them.” — Additional report by Nick Said