Last throw of the dice for Chippa

Chippa United’s players stumbled punch-drunk into the Last Chance Saloon yesterday having taken four critical blows to their already battered bodies at the weekend. An embarrassing 4-0 defeat to TS Galaxy in their penultimate DStv Premiership match of the season has left the club teetering on the edge of the abyss. Before the weekend, Chippa players and management spoke of how critical it was for them to beat TS Galaxy, not only for themselves and their livelihoods but for their Eastern Cape supporter base.

It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Chilli Boys fans this season with the seasonal and predictable changing of the guard at the coaching level and only seven victories in their 29 games.

As a result of the lack of success, their team now face the biggest week of their short history as a club.

The promotion-relegation battle is not new to those involved with Chippa United over the last decade or so and by hook or by crook the club has managed to survive the big drop to the second tier of SA soccer.

But the position they find themselves in is even more dire than previously experienced.

Marumo Gallants in 14th spot, Chippa (15th) and Maritzburg (16th) all have 29 points with the final round of fixtures to come. They are separated only by goal difference with Gallants having a far superior count.

By the time Chippa take the field on Saturday, they will know exactly what they have to do to dodge automatic relegation as Maritzburg play champions Mamelodi Sundowns in their final clash this evening.

Maritzburg beating Downs on an evening when the Brazilians will be handed the league trophy may be a long shot, but The Team of Choice will be hoping that they can at least snatch a draw taking them above Chippa on the log.

The Chilli Boys would then need to draw with Golden Arrows in Gqeberha on Saturday to reclaim 15th spot or win to move ahead of Gallants if they lose or draw against Swallows.

In that scenario, Chippa would also escape the second-last spot which involves an unwanted promotion-relegation dogfight against the leading second-tier sides.

So, the message will be very clear for Chippa at the NMB Stadium on Saturday: beat Arrows at all costs and then allow fate to deal the remainder of the hand.