Chippa out to push the boundaries
Coach Malesela optimistic on side’s chances of reaching Nedbank Cup semifinals for first time
CHIPPA United coach Dan Malesela anticipates a tough encounter against difficult National First Division side Jomo Cosmos in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals match tomorrow at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (3pm). This is the first time that the Port Elizabeth-based soccer team have made it this far in the competition in five attempts. The Chilli Boys will have to play their hearts out against a tricky Cosmos side if they want to progress to the next stage of the tournament.
Although aware that Ezenkosi will not be an easy team to beat, Malesela is hopeful his troops will do him proud.
The former Orlando Pirates player said Cosmos was a difficult team to play against, but he had been able to spot their tricks and had a few tactics up his sleeve as well. “It’s not an easy one [fixture]. “I watched Cosmos twice. I watched them against Bidvest Wits and now against Thanda Royal Zulu,” he said.
“They are a very difficult team to play because you never really know what their structure is, but I realise that they play on counter attacks and pack the defence a lot.
“Whether they will do that here is another thing, but I am hoping that we can break packed defences. We have done that before.
“I am hopeful that if they do the same we will break them up.” Malesela said Chippa had their own strategy when it came to cup matches because cup games could sometimes be decided by one goal or one mistake.
“So, we know what we do when we defend – I am not going to reveal that – and we know what we do when we attack.
“But we are very economical with everything that we do in cup games defensively because we don’t want any slip-up.
“I am very optimistic that we can win silverware, otherwise I would not have been here.
“If I don’t have the ambitions and the dreams to win a cup some day, then I am useless.
“I am not disrespecting other people but, with respect, there is always a chance in every cup.
“There have been surprises before. Cups have been won by underdogs.
“Like before, we want to do firsts with the club.
“If we go to the semifinals it will be a first for the club and then we’ll wait for the next game. I am hopeful that we will go through this one.”