Chance for Chippa United to recharge their batteries
AFTER three taxing Premier Soccer League matches in eight days, Chippa United captain James Okwuosa says the international break will be an ideal period for his teammates to recharge their batteries.
The Bay side have had three tough encounters at home, but managed to collect only three points from a possible nine.
They lost 2-0 against SuperSport in their first game, followed by a 2-1 win over Mpumalanga Black Aces.
They ended the triple-header with a 1-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns. Despite the de- feats, the Chilli Boys are still eighth on the log with 13 points from 10 games.
They next travel to Potchefstroom to play 14th-placed Jomo Cosmos at Olen Park Stadium on November 22.
Chippa’s defensive general Okwuosa said the break would help the team work on their mistakes ahead of Cosmos.
“The break will allow players to get some rest and those who are injured with knocks to recover. It’s a good thing for us,” he said.
“It’s a vital time for us to work harder on the team.
“To try to see where we can correct some mistakes we have been making.
“We lost two games at home, which is not good for us.
“The break will give us time to strengthen the team and also make sure that each and ev- ery one of us is perfect on the pitch.”
He said the players would remain focused during the international break.
“The players and everybody are responding well and doing well at training.
“We have been training every day, but sometimes we get a day off.
“The team has been preparing very well. I don’t see any breakdown in the team now.”
The Nigerian defender said they had not scheduled any friendly games for now, but they were hoping to play a few games in the future.
He said that would depend on coach Roger Sikhakhane.
Meanwhile, there will be danger for Orlando Pirates all over the pitch when they play Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel in the final of the African Confed- eration Cup later this month.
They will want to keep a particularly sharp eye on the in-form Brazilian forward, Diogo Acosta.
The 25-year-old joined Etoile in June, but has netted four goals in seven domestic appearances having settled in well in north Africa after being used mostly as an impact player off the bench. – Additional reporting by Nick Said