Chippa hope to crack Chiefs’ scalp in huge clash
Chippa United will be banking on previous results to crack a win over Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs when the two sides meet in a Premiership League fixture on Saturday, at Moses Madhida Stadium in Durban (6pm).
But most importantly the Port Elizabeth-based professional soccer side will be out to break their three game winless streak in the league when they play Amakhosi behind closed doors.
The Glamour Boys are still serving their punishment for April’s violence in Durban. Saturday’s match will be their second game of their (Chiefs) three matches without supporters.
Last season the Chilli Boys came away victorious in both home and away fixtures.
They beat Chiefs 1-0 in Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in the first leg of fixtures and went on to thrash them 3-0 at home during the second leg of the league.
Chippa will be hoping to pull off the same upset when the two sides meet on Saturday, as they are on a quest to lift themselves off the bottom of the log.
Coach Eric Tinkler’s troops lie 13th on the PSL standings having managed to bank only eight points from a possible 27 points after nine matches played so far.
Despite their performance having improved in their last previous matches, Chippa still struggle to find the back of the net.
They have played to three consecutive defeats recently, losing to Highlands Park, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.
In spite of the setback Tinkler has applauded his players’ performance, especially in the game againstSundownswhich they lost 1-0 at the Sisa Dikashe Stadium in East London.
The coach is adamant that if his troops put on the same showpiece as they did against the Pretoria side, they would definitely come back with something in the bag against Chiefs.
The Glamour Boys too have not had the best of starts to their league campaign and would be hoping to pick up from their recent 1-0 success against Black Leopards on Wednesday night.
Chiefs managed to pick themselves up after a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Orlando Pirates to launch a comeback by beating Supersport United 1-0 in the quarter finals of the Telkom Knockout competition.
A win against Chippa will create some consistency in the team’s performance.
Chiefs are fourth on the log table with 17 points from 12 games.
Chiefs coach Giovanni Solinas has warned that Chippa will be tougher than Black Leopards, who Amakhosi beat on Wednesday.
Chiefs beat Leopards 1-0 at FNB Stadium, but are bracing for a sterner challenge against Eastern Cape side Chippa.
Chippa are going to be considerably fresher going into the game‚ which could prove a huge factor in their favour.
It will be the first game for Chippa since their 1-0 loss to champions Mamelodi Sundowns in East London a fortnight ago, while Chiefs play a third game in six days.
They beat both SuperSport United – in the Telkom Knockout quarterfinals on Sunday‚ also at Moses Mabhida – and Leopards by single goals.
“Maybe we didn’t play our best games, but I’m happy we got the results‚” said Solinas.
“Within six days we are travelling twice up and down to Durban, and you can understand there will be fatigue. But I don’t want to make that an excuse‚” Solinas said.
Of their opponents‚ the 50year-old Italian added: “Chippa are a very dangerous team. They showed that against Orlando Pirates in the Telkom Knockout. We need these three points, but Chippa will be very difficult to beat.”
Chippa had Pirates on the back foot for much of their 1-0 Telkom last-16 defeat against Pirates on October 20‚ despite it being played at Bucs’ Orlando Stadium.