Chippa skipper sorry to sit out game against Stars

CHIPPA United skipper James Okwuosa is upset that he will not be leading his team onto the field when they face Free State Stars in an Absa Premiership fixture at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London on Saturday.

Chippa play Stars for the second time in a week, after their 2-1 away loss in a Nedbank Cup last 16 fixture last weekend.

Okwuosa accumulated a fourth yellow card and will miss Saturday’s game.

“I am very disappointed with myself that I won’t be part of the team on Saturday but there are some things you can’t change,” he said.

“Yellow cards come but the most important thing is to still support the team, which I will do.

“I’ll do everything I can to see that the team gets back to their winning ways.”

Winning matches is something the Chilli Boys have been struggling to do this season.

The team’s last victory was in January against AmaZulu.

Since then they have had three draws and two defeats.

The poor run his seen Chippa slide down the log towards the relegation zone.

They are 12th on the log with just two points separating them from 15th placed Ajax Cape Town.

Asked what he thought was the missing link was for the team to get positive results, the Nigerian defender said: “I think we need attitude and character.

“I think this is the right moment whereby everybody starts taking responsibility.

“We are happy that we are going to East London and with the help of the fans there, they will give us the 13th man on the pitch.

“That has been our backbone since we have been playing there.

“The fans in East London have been marvellous. They have been giving us their full support.

“This time around I am confident that we will get the three points come Saturday.”

Okwuosa, who had a short stint at Orlando Pirates, said being close to the relegation zone once more was frustrating.

“I have been with this team for long and we have been in this situation before,” he said.

“When you start reflecting on what you have gone through, sometimes you start to panic.

“But at the same time you have to look at those seasons, check the log points that we were on at the time and compare them to this season. Then you will see there is a huge difference.

“We still have an opportunity to make a difference and that gives you hope that you can do better.

“I am concerned, but I believe we can still turn things around.”