Chippa fight for survival
Coach Larsen determined to do whatever it takes to avoid the dreaded axe
New coach Clinton Larsen aims to fight tooth and nail in order to save Chippa United from the big drop.
“I am dedicated to my job and to the task at hand. I am going to do everything in my power to get the team out of this situation,” Larsen promised fans.
Larsen arrived in the metro on Friday to take up the role as the new Chilli Boys coach after the axing of Joel Masutha last week.
The former Bafana Bafana player, who parted ways with Golden Arrows in December, comes in at a crucial time with Chippa battling for survival in the Absa Premiership. The team are second from the bottom of the log, with 12 points from 17 matches.
But Larsen has put his head on the block and is determined to save the sinking ship.
“It’s very simple; we need to get out of the bottom three right now. We want to get that done in the first five to seven games,” Larsen said.
“Get out of the bottom three, that is our immediate target. Anything other than that is something for the future, but right now we are in trouble.
“We are one point away from being relegated. We are in a playoff place, and that needs to change as soon as possible.
“Our immediate plan is just to focus on one game at a time and target the teams that are directly above us.”
The former Bloemfontein Celtic mentor is confident that the bulk of the Chippa players are more than capable of getting the job done.
However, the coach said five more players were expected to join the Chilli Boys camp before the end of the season.
“The reason why I took up the challenge was because I looked at the players that were at the club. I knew for a fact that the quality is here. I want the team to play with a little bit more of a structured defence.
“The team has really been conceding a lot of goals. So, we will be working on that as well. I think my coaching style and management style will bring out the best in this group of players,” he said.
“I do believe that we have enough quality and we are adding to that after releasing so many players. We should add five players between now and the end of the season.
“I think we will have a nicely balanced and competitive squad.”
Asked about defender Siyabonga Zulu’s possible move to Chippa the coach said: “The only one I can confirm now is that only one player started training with us on Tuesday and that is Gladwin Shitolo. He comes from Orlando Pirates.
“He’ll be on loan until the end of the season and the others right now are just speculation.
“During the course of this week we should be getting a few more (players) down, and as they come down some will be assessed and some will be signed.
“That process will take place during the course of the week.”
Since his arrival, Larsen has had only four sessions with his players, and says he is happy with what he has seen so far.
“I really had a warm welcome with the managers and the players. I do know some of the players that are here who I have coached; Mark Mayambela, Kurt Lentjies, Ruzaigh Gamildien and Lareto Manzini.
“But I have also had a close relationship with some of the other players over the years. It’s not like I am coming into a totally new environment.
“I feel very comfortable and I am happy with what I have been seeing from the players in the last three to four days.”