Six friendlies for Chilli Boys

CHIPPA United coach Dan Malesela has lined up six friendly matches in KwaZuluNatal as he bids to prime his team ahead of the new PSL season.

The Port Elizabeth side will spend two weeks in Durban as part of their preseason camp.

With some of his players having dropped in fitness during the off-season, Malesela will use the camp to get them back in shape and also identify his starting lineup.

“We are looking at playing about six friendlies against AmaZulu, Golden Arrows and with the national U20 team.

“This will mean some days we will play one club twice a day,” the former Orlando Pirates skipper said.

“With the injuries there is no problem, but in terms of performance I think it’s a bit too early to say anything.

“There are a number of players who have gained a little weight during the break, but it’s something I think we can fix.

“We have Lerato Manzini and Rhulani Manzini, and we also need to work on Tshwarelo Bereng, but a lot of them are in good shape.”

Malesela said a special programme had been designed for players who had put on extra kilos during the break, plus those who went into the break with injuries.

The coach said his troops were better than what their 13th-place position on the log last season suggested.

“We can only be better if we try to do better things. I think one of the problems we had was taking things for granted, so we should be better this season.

“We have made a few changes to the team. We have also tried to find leadership in the players who are coming in. We are trying to erase all the negatives that happened last season.

“We will beef up the defence. There are quite a number of players we are bringing in, but I cannot say anything yet because there needs to be a formal announcement.”

Asked exactly how many players would be coming in, Malesela merely answered: “A lot.”