Malesela worried about his defenders

CHIPPA United coach Dan Malesela has defensive worries only days before the second leg of the Premier Soccer League kicks off next week.

The Port Elizabeth side returns to action when they host struggling Baroka at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Tuesday night (7.30pm).

Malesela, who once captained Soweto giants Orlando Pirates, said the team had no major worries with the striking force at the moment, but his biggest concern was the backline.

“Now our biggest challenge is the defence,” he said.

“It’s not the defence in terms of personnel but in terms of them operating with understanding and [knowing] what they are supposed to do.”

The coach said he had no problem with the wings, as the players in those positions, like Diamond Thopola and Bongani Kama, were back from injury.

Malesela said all that was left for him to do now was to find the perfect combination, and also acknowledged the presence of newly signed centre-back Justice Chabalala.

“We never really had a problem with the wingers, we have many. So I do not think the attack will be a problem, we just need to fix the defending.”

Asked whether the departure of defenders James Okwuosa and Marc van Heerden could have a negative effect on the team, he said: “If that was the case, players would not move.

“If I sit and say: ‘Eish these people have an impact,’ no, I want the new ones to have an impact, not the old ones – a positive impact.”

Despite his concerns, Malesela is determined to get his troops ready and fired up, not only for Tuesday night’s match but for the rest of the season.

The Chilli Boys are 11th on the log with 16 points from 14 matches.

Only four points separate them from relegation-threatened Baroka.

I do not think the attack will be a problem, we just need to fix the defending