Heric picks up poisoned chalice

Michaelson Gumede

Vladislav Heric will be looking to hit the ground running when he takes charge of Chippa United for the first time in this second stint at the helm of the Chilli Boys.

The Serb coach was parachuted into the hot seat after Teboho Moloi became the latest casualty in terms of coaches losing their jobs.

Chippa chairman Siviwe Mpengesi wielded the axe on the 49-year-old Moloi after the team failed to make significant progress in the Absa Premiership.

Heric’s first task is to qualify the side for the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup. However, it will not be an easy task for the former Maritzburg United coach and his men as they travel to face Luc Eymael’s high-flying Free State Stars today at Goble Park in Bethlehem.

Ea Lla Koto and Chippa have met once this season in the Premiership where they settled for a 1-1 draw, but this afternoon someone has to walk away victorious while the other will have to haul themselves off the pitch with their tails between their legs.

At the same time in Polokwane, Baroka FC will be hosting Western Cape ABC Motsepe League side Steenberg United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in the hope of advancing to the quarterfinals of the competition where they introduced themselves to South African football when they surprised Kaizer Chiefs with a 2-1 win seven years ago.

Following the official sacking of Kgoloko Thobejane earlier this week, McDonald Makhubedu is in charge as the interim coach and is expected to remain in the hot seat until the end of the season. Makhubedu is infamously known for lashing out at

last season when his then side Acornbush United FC faced the Soweto giants in this very same competition.

Bakgaga