Chilli Boys labour to oust Tshakhuma
Nedbank win a birthday gift for coach Larsen
The Chilli Boys successfully booked themselves a spot in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals after beating Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila 2-0 in the last 16 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday. Goals from Mark Mayambela and Kurt Lenjties not only saw the Port Elizabeth professional side proceed to the last eight of the competition but also extend their unbeaten run to five matches. Coach Clinton Larsen, who celebrated his 48th birthday yesterday, said they had anticipated a tough match against the Limpopo side.
“We knew it was not going to be easy based on what we saw of them against Polokwane City (in the last 32). “Something else we spoke about before the game was the fact that if we got the first goal, they would lose their shape and discipline.
“That is exactly what happened but the most disappointing part was that after getting the first goal we had so many opportunities to go two, three and four nil up.”
Larsen said he was disappointed to watch his troops fall for their opponents’ trap of playing at their level.
“I keep saying we are a work in progress. We are five games unbeaten now and the team is starting to believe we can win matches. The confidence is growing within the group. But we still have a long way to go.” Larsen, who has a small squad, said it would be wise to use his players sparingly and spread the workload so that players don’t burn out.
He said it was important that players like Lerato Manzini, William Twala, Daine Klate, Mayambela and Ruzaigh Gamildien, who had not played much, got the opportunity on Saturday. Chippa’s next match is an Absa Premiership fixture against Golden Arrows at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday.