CHIPPA’S NEW COACH COMES OUT FIRING WITH BOTH BARRELS
Excitable interim coach Joel Masutha has no qualms about talking up the Chilli Boys after drawing with Cape Town City
Chippa United interim coach Joel Masutha has a surprise in store for notoriously triggerhappy soccer boss Siviwe Mpengesi.
“I will fire him before he fires me,” Masutha said when asked if he was uneasy before taking the job at Chippa.
The Venda-born coach joined the Port Elizabeth-based professional soccer side at the beginning of the month replacing axed Eric Tinkler, in a dramatic move to try and save the foundering Chilli Boys’ ship.
The former Black Leopards coach made the statement while speaking to the media after his team’s 1-1 draw against Cape Town City in an Absa Premiership fixture at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday night.
Ironically, Masutha’s last game with Leopards before he was sacked was in Cape Town against the same side.
However, upon his return to the Mother City the coach had a smile on his face. “Actually, I got fired before I came [here],” Masutha laughed.
“But I am more happy here because of the spirit that was shown by the boys. Not many teams can come and play Cape Town City, in Cape Town and come out alive.
“When I took the job I told myself even if people say he [Mpengesi] will fire me or he fires people, I believe that I will fire him.
“That is the attitude that carries me through any situation. Otherwise you cannot be a coach and be a coward. Firing is beyond our control, if we could control that . . . now then that would be something.
“But, clubs are owned by people. Today you wake up thinking about something and tomorrow you think about something different.
“You just have to go and work, those [things] that you cannot control, leave them to those who can control [them].”
On the field, City struck first with Riyaad Norodien opening the scoring as early as the eighth minute.
However, Rhulani Manzini levelled the score minutes later to ensure that Chippa walked away with something from the game.
Masutha said he was satisfied with the fighting spirit shown by his players on Tuesday night.
“To be honest, especially in the first half, Cape Town City were running like hell. They were on top of us but we showed character,” he said.
“Normally, when you are down there, there is too much stress. You concede early and you look down, but the boys did not do that.
“So, that makes me feel satisfied even though I feel like we still need to work on them playing more positive, not being afraid and taking the game to the opponents.
“Because, if you look at the players I fielded, these guys on any good day, can take on anybody and win the match. So, I believe where we are right now it also hampers the confidence of the players. I think this point against a super team will help these boys start believing.”
Masutha also applauded his assistant coach Tshepo Motsoeneng. “We have been working very well together. He is very vocal but he knows his job and I am happy with that.
“I am not a coach who says, ‘you are my assistant’. A title is a title, yes, but I empower everyone even the players, I even engage them on the bench.”