Chippa focused on Africa dream
CHIPPA United have their sights set on going all the way in the Nedbank Cup that kicks off on February 6.
The Chilli Boys have vowed to give it their all when they start their campaign against the Mpumalanga Safa champions who will be determined in the play-off final today.
GS Skills Academy, playing in the Mpumalanga SAB League, will go head-to-head against Phiva Young Star from the region’s ABC Mostepe League at the Sakhile Stadium in Standerton at 3pm this afternoon to decide Chippa’s opponents.
The Port Elizabeth outfit has been preaching continental football all season and executive chairman Siviwe Chippa Mpengesi says the team is ready to elevate its brand of football. The winner of the Nedbank Cup gets to play in other parts of Africa.
“We believe that now is the time to take this brand to different parts of the continent. Finishing strongly in the competition could mean one thing for us and that is to play in the Continental Cup in the 2018-19 season,” Mpengesi said.
Chippa United coach Teboho Moloi says that this is the competition they want to win the most as it will give his players exposure.
“The Nedbank Cup is always a tricky competition because it is unpredictable,” Moloi said.
“Teams from the different leagues always spring a twist that the bigger teams are not expecting.
“We have seen many big guns lose to the teams in the other leagues.
“It is of utmost importance that we prepare ourselves thoroughly for this competition and fulfil our dream of playing continental football.
“This is one of the competitions that we are eyeing and we have been preparing ourselves for it all season.
“We have to take this one and we are going go all out to make sure that this happens.
“We are going to need a lot of mental strength to shift our minds from mid-week Absa Premiership games and to putting our hearts on the line in the Nedbank Cup,” he said.
Current CAF representatives SuperSport United are the defending champions after making history last season by becoming the first club to defend the trophy in the Nedbank Cup era.
The Ke Yona Team Search, which has been an essential part of the Nedbank Cup for the past five years, was also launched on the night. This was where Chilli Boys’ MDC team striker Makhosandile Plaatjie made his mark and became man of the match against Matsanstansta last year.
There will be over R20-million available in overall prize money, with the winner guaranteed R7million while all lower league teams that have qualified for the main draw will receive R100 000.