Chippa boss confident of avoiding axe
Chippa United may be hovering around the relegation zone, but the club’s COO, Lukhanyo Mzinzi, is confident they can still finish in the top eight of the Absa Premiership.
The league resumes next week with Chippa playing Cape Town City at Orlando Stadium on the Friday (3.30pm).
There is a logjam in the middle of the table with only five points separating the Chilli Boys and Highlands Park, who are in eighth position on 31 points. With 18 points still up for grabs, Mzinzi says the players have what it takes to move into the top half of the log, even though they are only three points above relegation-threatened AmaZulu in 15th place.
“We think we need to win the first three games to make sure we are completely out of relegation,” Mzinzi said.
“There is still a good possibility of a top-eight finish, which all of us would like.
“It’s good to participate in the top-eight competition for the people of the Eastern Cape and for our supporters. It will also give us an extra chance at silverware.
“We are open to that but our priority is to make sure we retain our status.
“We think this is far more important than any other ambitions the coach or the players might have.”
Mzinzi said the Chilli Boys would get their house in order this week before they head into the bio-bubble for their remaining fixtures.
“It’s all systems go now. We are preparing to go to Johannesburg ... we’ll arrive there earlier.
“Of course the fixtures are out and we are playing [next week] on Friday.
“We think we will be leaving PE by the latest on Monday to make sure we are as comfortable as we can be and that the side can familiarise themselves with the weather and other aspects like the training venue.
“Remember we are going to be staying there for quite some time so we’ll have to get used to the training venues we are provided with and our home stadium, Orlando Stadium.”
Mzizni said Chippa were still waiting to be allocated accommodation by the PSL and they had been told it would be close to the stadium.
He said the accommodation was likely to be in Roodepoort or around Milpark.