Coach’s words may come to haunt him
Sambu taunted Pirates after 6-0 loss at Downs
Two months ago, Chippa United assistant coach Mbuyiselo Sambu made a comment that may not have sat well with Orlando Pirates players and their supporters.
Bucs had been humiliated 6-0 by Mamelodi Sundowns when Sambu used “we are not Pirates” in his pre-match statement ahead of Chippa’s game against Sundowns. Bucs supporters interpreted this as belittling their team.
Now Sambu has the big responsibility of leading the Chilli Boys against the Buccaneers in a league match at Orlando Stadium tomorrow night (8.15pm).
Chippa have placed head coach Dan Malesela on special leave. The club is yet to make an official pronouncement on Malesela but Sambu has taken over the reins.
Sambu couldn’t be reached for comment ahead of the weekend clash, but Bucs coach Kjell Jonevret said it mattered little that Malesela would not be on the bench.
“Chippa is probably a better team than Baroka [whom Pirates drew 1-1 with in midweek]. Chippa don’t have [their head] coach, but I’m afraid they have 11 players,” said Jonevret.
Pirates will have to deliver a better performance than they did against Baroka after struggling to crack the bottom side’s defence until injury time when Issa Sarr equalised with a header.
Bucs goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane had earlier been beaten by a long range Victor Letsoalo effort that was supposed ● to be a routine save. Mpontshane, though, is likely to keep his place for the clash against Chippa despite the fault.
Pirates beat Chippa 1-0 in their first round clash in Port Elizabeth when a solitary Tendai Ndoro goal decided the drama-filled tie.
Ndoro then went 13 games without scoring and subsequently lost his starting berth to Thamsanqa Gabuza.
However, the Zimbabwean international has recently featured in Jonevret’s starting line-up and he is expected to lead the Bucs attack in Soweto tomorrow.