HEAT ON CHILLI BOYS AS CHIEFS LIE IN WAIT

AFTER his team lost 2-0 to former African Champions Mamelodi Sundowns in a Premier Soccer League fixture at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Wednesday, Chippa United coach Vladislav Heric said winning their next match would take some of the pressure off his team.

However, Chippa’s next league match will not be an easy one – they play Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium in Soweto tomorrow.

It was always going to be a tough encounter against the Brazilians, who are chasing top honours this season. They needed a win to keep their top spot on the log.

The defeat has put pressure on Port Elizabeth-based Chippa United to win their next league match if they want to stay clear of the relegation zone.

Playing Amakhosi will not be a walk in the park but Heric is positive they will able to come back home with positive results.

On Chippa’s defeat to Sundowns, Heric said his team’s technique was very poor on match day.

“We gave too much ball away or the passes did not come as usual,” the coach said.

“Technique is also shooting and scoring. We had one-on-one with the goalkeeper in the first half [twice] and we didn’t score.

“In certain points we defeat ourselves, I believe. The game plan works, but players need time to understand what I am asking when we talk about game plan.

“We have to be strict and respect the plan, but also give them [players] time to adjust in the game.

“I am not disappointed, and I am looking forward to the next game.

“We lost the game, but we did have some positives and I believe we came out stronger [from it].”

The former Bay United coach said he was not pleased with the team’s situation in the league.

Chippa are 12th on the log with 30 points from 25 matches. They are only six points away from the playoff spot, which is occupied by Ajax Cape Town.

“I do believe we will get some points in the next game and we will avoid that unnecessary pressure.

“The most important game to us is Ajax at home,” he said.

“I am not excluding the next game. We have to go all-out [to win] to avoid being under pressure against Ajax.”