Chippa on wing and a prayer
Mayambela upbeat for semis
Chippa United skipper Mark Mayambela believes the football gods will be on his team’s side when they face Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday.
The Chilli Boys will take on Amakhosi in the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (8.15pm). Mayambela is a staunch and proud member of the Zion Christian Church. This weekend, he will miss the annual church pilgrimage to Moria in Limpopo due to the cup match. The 31-year-old has expressed confidence that the prayers from his congregation will ensure that his team emerges victorious this Easter. “As Chippa I think that we have a date with destiny as the club has never played in a cup final before,” he said. “Obviously I can’t go to Moria but I have been there many times and the people at my church will be going and will keep us in their prayers. We just have to do our best during the match and the rest will take care of itself.” Since owner Chippa Mpengesi established the club in 2010, they have had a number of highs including winning the National First Division (NFD) and finishing in the top eight of the Absa Premiership. They have, however, never qualified for a cup final before and this could be their time. “It would be a big deal to qualify for the final because it is the 10-year anniversary of the club [next year] and it would mean so much to the chairman who has invested his blood, sweat and tears,” Mayambela said.
The Khayelitsha-born dribbling wizard collected a handful of winners’ medals during his stint at Orlando Pirates seven years ago where they won two MTN8 titles, the Telkom Knockout and Nedbank Cup during the era of Ruud Krol.
“I have won many cup finals in the past and it would be nice for our younger players in the team to experience what it feels like,” he said. “My role as the leader is to motivate the guys and share my experience with them. I believe we can do it.”