We must be organised against Celtic — Mapeza
Chippa United need to be structured in all areas to grab a win from Bloemfontein Celtic on Sunday, coach Norman Mapeza said.
Chippa play Siwelele in an Absa Premiership fixture at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth (3.30pm).
Though the Bloemfontein side will be the hosting team, Chippa will have the upper hand as the stadium is their home ground.
Celtic were forced to move their fixture to Port Elizabeth because of unfavourable playing conditions at their home ground, the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein.
“It’s a game of football where we have to be organised in all areas,” Mapeza said.
“We have to be sorted in how we are going to defend, how we are going to operate in midfield and in our off-the-ball movement, especially up front.
“We are going to face a very good team.
“If you look at their results in the last four matches I think they have been doing well.
“They played four matches, won two, drew one and lost on Wednesday to Bidvest Wits.
“But Celtic played very well against Wits and there was a time they were leading in the game.
“Their coach has done well and we know the challenges that we are going to face on Sunday.
“In terms of our preparation everything so far is good.
“We don’t have many injuries.
“Diamond Thopola and Gregory Damons are out just for a few days, but in terms of their involvement in Sunday’s match they are definitely out,” he said.
The Chilli Boys have scored five wins since the Zimbabwean coach arrived.
Mapeza has helped lift Chippa from the bottom of the log to a more respectable 10th place with 21 points.
They are five points clear of the relegation zone.
Mapeza will be looking to further open the gap when they play Celtic.
“We have been getting results and that is the most important thing.
“We have not gone into so much details in terms of some of the aspects of the game, but our main objective now is to survive relegation.
“Let’s keep working, maintain the same attitude, have the same desire and keep collecting points.
“If you look at the points difference between us and those teams below us, it is not that big.
“That shows the competitiveness of the league, especially in the second half of the season.
“It’s very important for us to keep on collecting points.”
In terms of surviving relegation this season, Mapeza said they were moving in the right direction.