Chilli Boys’ boss feels vindicated
Move to Friendly City paying off, says Mpengesi
Chippa Mpengesi feels vindicated for relocating Chippa United from the Mother City to Port Elizabeth after the recent stadium debacle with the City of Cape Town.
Cape Town City and Ajax Cape Town were forced to find alternative venues for their home games after the Cape Town Stadium became unavailable due to the Rugby Sevens World Series.
They both had to use venues in Johannesburg and Durban.
Ajax’s 1-0 win over Chippa was played at the Bidvest Stadium on Saturday while City lost 4-2 to Maritzburg United at the Princess Magogo Stadium last week.
Back in 2014, Mpengesi raised eyebrows as he took his club to “The Friendly City” after experiencing problems with the municipality over the Philippi Stadium.
The club owner reached an agreement with the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality to play their home games at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
“Cape Town is not a football city. I have taken a lot of wrong decisions in my life, but moving our club from Cape Town was the best decision I have made,” Mpengesi said.
“These issues, I foresaw them coming.
“We encountered many problems with the Philippi Stadium with the certificate [of] clearance to play there. I felt that other sporting codes get the preference and football is just pushed to the side.”
The current season is the club’s fourth since the move and Mpengesi is still happy with their home ground.
Since then, Chippa secured their maiden top-eight finish and now they are aiming for a top-four finish to qualify for CAF competition.
“Our next goal is to go into Africa. I am more experienced and patient now. I am taking it like a step ladder, the time will come to win cups. I am no longer in a hurry.”
The Chilli Boys coach Teboho Moloi became the first mentor at the club to win the PSL Coach of the Month, after his win for November.
They face Polokwane City at home on Saturday.
I felt football in Cape Town is just pushed to the side