‘I’ll f ire boss before he f ires me’

Chippa United interim coach Joel Masutha has a surprise in store for notoriously triggerhappy soccer boss Siviwe Mpengesi.

“I will fire him before he fires me,” Masutha said when asked if he was uneasy before taking the job at Chippa.

The Venda-born coach joined the Port Elizabeth-based professional soccer side at the beginning of the month, replacing Eric Tinkler in a dramatic move to try to save the foundering Chilli Boys’ ship.

The former Black Leopards coach made the comment while speaking to the media after his team’s 1-1 draw against Cape Town City in an Absa Premiership fixture at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Tuesday night.

Ironically, Masutha’s last game with Leopards before he was sacked was in Cape Town against the same side.

However, upon his return to the Mother City the coach had a smile on his face.

“Actually, I got fired before I came [here],” Masutha said laughing.

“But I am more happy here because of the spirit shown by the boys. Not many teams can come and play Cape Town City, in Cape Town, and come out alive.

“When I took the job I told myself even if people say he [Mpengesi] will fire me or he fires people, I believe that I will fire him.

“That is the attitude that carries me through any situation, otherwise you cannot be a coach, rather a coward.

“Firing is beyond our control, if we could control that, that would be something.”

On the field, City struck first, with Riyaad Norodien opening the scoring as early as the eighth minute.

However, Rhulani Manzini levelled the score minutes later to ensure that Chippa walked away with something.

“To be honest, especially in the first half, Cape Town City were running like hell,” Masutha said.

“They were on top of us, but we showed character.

“We made mistakes here and there, but you could see that this is a team that wants to move up the log.

“Normally, when you are down there, there is too much stress. You concede early and you look down, but the boys did not do that.

“That makes me satisfied, even though I feel we still need to work on them not being afraid and taking the game to the opponents.

“If you look at the players I fielded, these guys on any good day can take on anybody and win the match.”

Masutha also applauded his assistant coach, Tshepo Motsoeneng.

“We have been working very well together. He is very vocal, but he knows his job.”