High praise for Chippa’s new coach

Chippa United striker Rhulani Manzini, who has been instrumental in the team’s recent good run, says he owes his success to coach Clinton Larsen.

Manzini, 30, slotted the goal that knocked former African champions Mamelodi Sundowns out of the Nedbank Cup recently.

It was only his second goal for the team this season but he maintains he is in high spirits and determined to net more.

“The coach came in and gave me confidence. He is a man of integrity and he believes in our abilities.

“That has rubbed off on us to believe in ourselves as well,” Manzini said.

“As a striker you have to score and that is how we are judged.

“I believe in myself and with a good performance I can score more goals for the team.

“The confidence level is high in the team since the coach came in. He has changed a lot of things, everything from the top down.”

Manzini returned to Chippa last season after he left on a swap deal that saw defender Ayabulela Konqobe join the PE side.

The former Platinum Stars striker, who has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, said he was happy with the fact that he has had a clean bill of health so far this season.

Chippa face yet another must-win fixture this weekend in their quest to lift themselves out of the bottom four of the Absa Premiership table.

The Chilli Boys travel to face Free State Stars on Saturday, at the Goble Park Stadium in Bethlehem (6pm).

Chippa have been unbeaten in three matches since the arrival of Larsen, with their most recent result being a 1-1 draw against Baroka in a bottomof-the-log battle.

Before that, the team had two successive victories – against Maritzburg United in the league and the cup fixture against Sundowns.