Chippa banking on homeground support tomorrow

Chippa United aim to feed off their home supporters’ positive energy for the strength needed to beat Stellenbosch in their DStv Premiership fixture at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (3.30pm) tomorrow, skipper Roscoe Pietersen said.

Chippa finally broke their seven-match winless run in the league at the weekend when they beat Maritzburg 1-0.

The Gqeberha side will hope to build on that performance and register a second consecutive win.

The defender, 34, said the victory had helped boost the morale of his teammates.

“You could see from the previous game that we gained a lot of confidence winning at home and also keeping a clean sheet,” Pietersen said.

“With the victory you could feel the energy from the supporters, which boosted our confidence, knowing they were out there supporting us.

“Even though we had seven games without a win, being at home and feeling that energy from the crowd helped us win that game which was very important for us.

“We have a few home games coming up and our target is to try to win all of those, which will also put us in a good position to cement or secure our spot in the top eight.

“The guys are very confident going into the weekend’s game.”

Stellenbosch are also on cloud nine after their 3-2 win against Cape Town City.

Before the victory, the Cape Town side had nine matches without a win in the PSL. They, too, will be looking to keep their winning momentum.

However, Pietersen believes with their fans cheering them on, the visitors will be hardpressed to take home any points.

“It was a derby week for them, they came back from a 20 down to win the game 3-2 in front of their home fans.

“We need to connect those energies with our home supporters,” he said.

“It will be a different game for them coming to us.

“We are trying to make the stadium as hostile as it can be for opponents.

“If we can connect with our supporters from the first whistle, as we did in our previous game, then we will win.

“I mean we had so many chances. I don’t know when we last started a game so well.

“If we could just put in that type of performance from the start, it gives us a huge confidence boost and I am sure it also makes it a little bit harder for the opponents.”

On Wednesday, chief executive Lukhanyo Mzinzi confirmed the club had signed former Baroka striker Decide Chauke, Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila winger Tshepo Matete and Cape Town All Stars defender Thabo Makhele.

Pietersen said the new players would add value to the squad.

“We started this culture last season, building the foundation for any new signings.

“Obviously, they are signed for a reason and a purpose.

“The technical team can see what they can add to the team.

“We just welcome them as brothers, an addition to the strong Chippa United family,” he said.