Chippa’s winning streak finally has EC fans rejoicing

Chippa United’s record-breaking winning streak cannot go unmentioned, especially given the shenanigans that often beset the lone Eastern Cape representatives in the PSL.

The club, whose chair Siviwe Mpengesi is notorious for dismissing coaches for minor hiccups, has finally made headlines for all the right reasons and soccer fans from this province could not be happier.

That the four wins on the trot mark the first time the club has done so, speaks volumes on how the fortunes have changed for an outfit known only for flirting with relegation every season.

The four wins are not only a club record, but the Chilli Boys also became the first team in the PSL this season to win four league matches in a row.

As can be expected, the credit for this success goes to caretaker coach Morgan Mammila, a former club COO, who took over the reins after Daine Klate was shown the door.

Assisted by Siyabulela Gwambi, Mammila navigated the club through uncharted waters which saw them beating oppositions including Kaizer Chiefs, Sekhukhune United, Amazulu and Marumo Gallants to vault to the sixth spot in the log.

Chippa only trail log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns by five points with a game in hand over three of the teams above them.

This means the Chilli Boys might catapult to the third spot if they beat Cape Town City on Tuesday and even go a rung up if they also get the better of Richards Bay in their following game.

Mpengesi has always expressed ambitions to see his side challenging for the league title, but since his PSL campaign started, the team have only been good at preserving their elite league status.

While it is early days to anoint them as league title contenders, the good run in a season fraught by inconsistency of clubs cannot be ruled out.

As to who is responsible for this change in fortune, that is immaterial, though perhaps Klate would beg to differ.

Like Gavin Hunt when he was fired and left Kurt Lentjies in charge, he insisted that he was the one who had laid the foundation for the brief good run.

Klate, whose tenure started during the preseason but found the going tough when the season kicked off leading to his departure, might claim that the sudden change in fortune is due to his groundwork.

Or perhaps it is Mpengesi’s generosity when he donated R300,000 towards the purchase of a house for Springboks Women Rugby player Lusanda Dumke that may also have brought his club good luck.

Whatever the reason, we salute the Chilli Boys.

Chilli Boys became the first team in the PSL this season to win four matches in a row