LOOK TO STRENGTHEN SQUAD

WITH the Premier Soccer League’s January transfer window having opened on Tuesday, clubs are now looking at strengthening their teams ahead of the second half of the domestic season.

The second leg of the season is usually the toughest, with some clubs fighting for the number one spot, some eyeing a top-eight finish and others fighting for survival to stay in the top league.

Chippa United communications and marketing head Luthando Zibeko said some fresh legs were needed to strengthen the team and that some players would be released or loaned out.

However, Zibeko said he could not reveal the names of players the club was interested in signing or those who would be leaving.

Chippa United chairman Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi would make an announcement at a later stage.

“We were able to analyse during the first half of the season and there are, of course, areas of concern the team will try and address,” Zibeko said.

“We conceded a lot of goals and the defence is one of the areas we are going to address.

“There will be players we are going to release or loan out, but the coach and his technical team, including management, will sit down when we reopen to discuss the issue.”

Asked if there were any players they had their eyes on, Zibeko said: “There are always players we are looking at, but we have to make sure that everything is done according to what the technical team wants. We also have to look if there is a need to reinforce now.”

Zibeko said that the team was not looking at an immediate solution, but at players who would fit into Chippa’s style of play.

Meanwhile, Chippa United chief operations officer Peter Koutroulis has confirmed that Simphiwe Mtsweni has left the Port Elizabeth club.

“Mtsweni is now free after being handed his clearance,” Koutroulis said.

“He struggled to break into the team and the coach decided that it would be in his best interests if he moved.

“He is still young and has a great future ahead, because he has a good attitude and is professional in his approach to the game all the time,” he said. “It just did not work well for him at Chippa.” The Chilli Boys are 11th on the log, with 16 points from 14 games played. They are only four points clear of the relegation zone.