Leading the charge for Chippa
Coach says good run is due to solid defence
The surprise 1-0 away win over Cape Town City on Saturday not only took Chippa off bottom place, but blasted them up to 11th spot as they won for a third time in four matches.
Norman Mapeza is taking on the air of a miracle worker, but says the secret to the turnaround is simple.
“Whenever you get to a new club‚ the foundation is to build a solid defence — to have a good goalkeeper‚ four quality defenders who can depend on each other‚ a fullback who sometimes can join up with the attack,” Mapeza said.
“That’s where we started‚ shaping the team‚ working on how to shift as a group.
“But last week against Baroka we didn’t get forward enough in numbers.
“Meshack Maphungule and Thabo Rakhale didn’t get up to join [Augustine] Kwem.
“But against City it was there, because I insisted that we work on that in training‚” Mapeza said.
“When I arrived here some two months ago‚ I knew the situation with the club.
“I thought ‘let me take the challenge‚ let me lift these boys’.
“I’m not taking anything away from the other coaches [that came before].
“They did very well. Surviving relegation is not easy.”
But Mapeza looks to have the Midas touch missing for several seasons.
The challenge for him now is to keep up the turnaround in fortunes. “The results have been positive‚ especially in terms of training‚ the approach‚ the desire.
“You can tell that they are willing to learn‚ they are willing to push.
“So for me as a coach this is a big positive‚ I always leave the training ground and go home in good spirits because the guys are willing to push‚” the former Zimbabwe international and national team coach said.
“We don’t have numbers‚ we have a very small squad‚ but we have to keep pushing and I hope come January we will beef up the squad.”
The victory over City showed how Mapeza has instilled much more discipline as Chippa held firm under a sustained onslaught.
“Credit go to the boys. They worked so hard,” he said. “They defended so well. “In the second half we knew we were playing against the wind and it wasn’t going to be easy‚ but we were very disciplined‚ very organised at the back.”
Chippa will be in the top eight if they beat SuperSport United at home in their last game on December 21, but Mapeza has warned his players not to get ahead of themselves.
“I was talking to the players straight after the match and telling them we have to remain humble.
“In football‚ this is the most dangerous time.
“When things are going like this‚ it is very easy to switch off‚ so what’s important is to maintain the discipline and the positive attitude.
“If we are going to lose that‚ then we are in trouble‚” he warned.