Chilli Boys star believes breather can do wonders

CHIPPA United will now have a two-week break after their hardfought 1-0 win against Free State Stars in a league encounter over the weekend.

Their next fixture will be on April 4 against Mamelodi Sundowns. Chippa’s star midfielder Mark Mayambela hopes the rest will have a positive effect on the team.

The break comes at a crucial time for the Chilli Boys after having struggled to grab three points in eight of their previous matches this year.

But they ended their drought in the league when they beat Stars in a return match at Sisa Dukashe Stadium, in Mdantsane, following their 2-1 loss to the same side in the Nedbank Cup last 16 recently.

Mayambela welcomed the break, but admits he is not too sure what affect it will have on the team.

“We might use it to rectify a lot of things within the team, tactically and physically. Maybe it might also be a negative with us having won the game. The confidence and the continuity, it’s something that we have to deal with as a team.

“I believe that we have enough quality in the team and the capabilities and players that can manage such situations.”

Speaking about the win at the weekend, the former Ajax Cape Town player said getting three points was vital.

“Everybody in the team is happy about the three points. I think it was the ultimate goal, because we haven’t won in the past eight games.

“The last time we won was our first game of the year against AmaZulu. We have been drawing and losing in between. We needed the win more than anything and I think that is what we provided. The three points were more important than anything else.”

Heavy rains the night before the Sisa Dukashe game made conditions difficult.

Mayambela said playing in conditions like that is never easy for any team, more especially for a club like Chippa who like to build up from the back and play short passes.

“It’s not easy, it’s slippery, it’s wet and there was a lot of mud in the grass. So it was a bit difficult, but like I said the three points and the win was the ultimate goal,” he said.