New Chippa coaches either brave or stupid
It’s either Kwanele Kopo and Thabo September are brave or stupid for joining the unstable Chippa United. We all know that moving to the Gqeberha-based side is an extreme sport. It’s like playing Russian roulette with a fully loaded pistol.
Their appointment as co-coaches was unexpected, particularly, as the management of the club was singing Morgan Mammila’s praises just last month before the PSL went on a festive break.
It makes you wonder what prompted the change. In a statement, the club calls roping in the two coaches a “strategic move to bolster their vision and future.”
Wait, it gets even better. Mammila has now been bizarrely elevated to a technical director position as the pair of Kopo and September take over the reins. If the outspoken coach and administrator couldn’t satisfy the Chippa management as a head coach, how do they justify giving him an even bigger role to continue at the club.
One follower on social media joked that the new coaches would be wise not to unpack their luggage as they could at any given time be shown the revolving door when the league resumes next month. The luxury of time is just simply a rare commodity under the mercurial club boss Siviwe Chippa Mpengesi.
The changes prove what everyone knows about the Chili Boys’ hierarchy and the fact that they run the club with an iron fist.
Their volatility is unmatched when it comes to sacking managers. Kopo and September should know better, however, their bravery will in some quarters be applauded because taking such a huge gamble clearly means they believe in their abilities.
Another question to ask is what metric did they use to bring in Kopo because he didn’t cover himself in glory at Motsepe Championship team Pretoria Callies, where he left the club without a win in the 2023-2024 season after 11 games.
He lost three matches and drew eight before being shown the door. That form is a fireable offence at Chippa and it will not be tolerated under the trigger happy Mpengesi and his trusted executive director Lukhanyo Mzinzi.
September led the SuperSport United reserve team to the Diski Challenge title last season and one would have hoped for a natural progression of him continuing to learn the trade instead of jumping ship from the club where he enjoys legendary status from his playing days.
I spoke to the 41-year-old after his success with Matsatsantsa a Pitori juniors and by his own admission, he wanted to continue working in development structures and made it clear that he was not ready to make the step up to senior football.
I guess you don’t win the lotto if you don’t buy a ticket and whatever Kopo and September’s motivations are for taking the gamble on the impossible job at Chippa, they shouldn’t be surprised if they are sent packing before the season ends.