Mapeza well aware of the Chippa curse
New Chippa United coach, Norman Mapeza (above) went into the job with his eyes wide open and he said this week that he wanted ‘to have a feel of the environment’ by taking the job at a club whose owner has built a reputation of being trigger happy.
The Chilli Boys chairman, Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi has been known to not hesitate to fire coaches when things don’t go well, but the Zimbabwean mentor is not worried about all of that.
“No,” replied Mapeza when asked if he feels the pressure after the 2-0 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs at home on Wednesday night. “You know in this industry there will be a day where as a coach you resign and a day where you get fired.
“Top coaches in the world can be sacked – I am not saying I am one of the top coaches but I am just giving an example. Guys like (Jose) Mourinho. Guys like Carlos Quieroz were sacked. And one of my idols Fabio Capello was sacked after winning the championship with Real Madrid.
“I knew when I came here I just wanted to have a feel of this environment. If tomorrow the owner of the club says ‘look coach, you have failed’ I will take my things and go home with my head up.
“At least I have shown people a little of what I am capable of and I will leave this place with my head up, and go back to Zimbabwe to take a rest. Maybe I will get another opportunity somewhere else,” said Mapeza who played for Ajax Cape Town among others during his playing days.
The 47-year-old didn’t want to use the loss of three players before half time against Amakhosi as an excuse for his team’s defeat but admitted it was a massive blow.
“I am happy. The work ethic is there, everybody could see it. Losing the three players in 10 minutes disrupted our plans. They are massive injuries.”
Mapeza gets another chance to get things right as he guides the Chilli Boys away at AmaZulu in a game set for an 8.15 pm kick-off at Princess Magogo Stadium.
“It will come right. It’s all about belief and perseverance. Everyone should have the same mentality that it will happen. If I am the only one with the belief, then it is unlikely that anything will happen. Everybody in this club has to be on the same page and we all have to sincerely believe it will eventually come right.