Chippa need hunger, focus Mothwa
Chilli Boys resume the league against side they beat in the first leg
Focus and a hunger to win games are the ingredients Chippa United need to survive in the Absa Premiership, captain Veli Mothwa says.
With just six matches remaining, Chippa are once again fighting for survival in the top flight of SA football.
The Port Elizabeth club are 12th on the log, with 26 points from 24 matches.
They are six points clear of the automatic relegation berth but only three points clear of the playoff spot. After going nearly five months without games due to Covid-19, Chippa return to action hosting Cape Town City at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Friday (3.30pm).
Goalkeeper and skipper Mothwa, 29, says spirits are high in the camp and they are excited that football has finally returned after such a long layoff.
“Everything is OK and things are going according to plan. We are respecting the rules and following the protocols,” Mothwa said.
“We are excited about the return of football and the players are looking forward to Friday’s game against Cape Town City. The game will help us track how far we are in terms of fitness levels.”
A win against City would give the Chippa squad much-needed confidence heading into the final five matches of the season. Beside Friday’s encounter, the Chilli Boys will have Highlands Park, Baroka FC, Stellenbosch, Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows to play before the season closes.
“Friday ’ s game will be difficult because we beat Cape Town City at home in the first round,”
Mothwa said.
“So they will definitely want to avenge that defeat. It will be hard for us to win this game but we are determined to get as many points as we can to stay away from relegation.
“As a team we are tired of fighting relegation so everybody is putting in extra work at training.
“It’s about time that we show our character and fight for maximum points in every game we play in the remaining fixtures because we don’t want to find ourselves in the same situation as before.
“The mood in the camp is OK although it gets lonely sometimes, but everybody is willing to fight for the team to keep the club in the PSL.
“We will need to be focused and have more hunger in matches going into the remaining fixtures of the season.
“We don’t know what will happen in the game but if we play our normal game and stick to the coach’s instructions then we should get a positive result.
“If we win this game I think it will give us the morale boost that we need going forward as we wrap up the league.”
Chippa will be without William Twala and Sila Maziya, who remained in PE as they are still nursing injuries.