Chilli Boys plot Celtics' downfall
Chippa United coach Norman Mapeza says they need to be structured in all areas in order to grab a win over Bloemfontein Celtic on Sunday.
The Port Elizabeth-based soccer side play on song Siwelele in an Absa Premiership fixture, at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (3.30pm).
Although the Bloemfontein side will be the hosting team, Chippa will have the upper hand as NMB Stadium is their home ground.
Celtic were forced to move their fixture to PE due to unfavourable playing conditions at their home ground, the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein.
Chippa’s mentor said they need to be well prepared for Celtics.
“We have to be organised,” Mapeza said. “It’s a game of football. We have to be organised in all areas. We have to be sorted in how we are going to defend, how we are going to operate in mid field and in our off the ball movement, especially up front.
“If you look at their past results in the last four matches I think they have been doing well.
“They played four matches – won two, drawn one and lost on Wednesday, to Bidvest Wits.
“But Celtic played very well against Wits. 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 much injuries expect for 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 Zimbabweans 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 from 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 the expectations of the game, but our main objective now is to survive relegation.
“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.”
In terms of achieving the goal of surviving relegation this season, Mapeza said they were moving in the right direction.