Chilli Boys keep on fighting with draw

Chippa earn valuable point, but have important match still to play

CHIPPA United held on doggedly for a valuable point against Mpumalanga Black Aces in the Absa Premiership at the Mbombela Stadium last night, as they moved three points clear of fellow relegation candidates Moroka Swallows and AmaZulu with one match left to play for the sides.

It has been a season characterised by disorganisation and incompetence from United, who were in eighth position at the start of the year before dropping to 14th after a run of poor results.

Last night, in desperate need of a win to keep their hopes of surviving alive, United scored early, but could not hold on for the victory as the game finished 1-1.

United need to win their final game against Kaizer Chiefs and hope that 15th placed AmaZulu, who beat University of Pretoria 2-1 last night, lose their final match and go into the end of season playoffs.

Velile Dyaloyi, United’s Multichoice Diski Challenge team coach, became the fifth man to sit on the bench as coach of the club run like a spaza shop after replacing interim boss Mich D’Avary, who was called in to do the job when German coach Ernst Middendorp was suspended.

D’Avary and assistant Fadlu Davids were shown the door after a defeat to Free State Stars at the weekend sucked them deeper into the relegation quagmire.

United’s owner Chippa Mpengesi might as well sit in the hot seat and coach the team himself, like Jomo Sono at Jomo Cosmos, because he just cannot seem to find the right man to meet his standards.

Dyaloyi’s reign got off to a perfect start, with his side scoring in the third minute of the game through former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Edward Manqele, who headed home from close range after William Twala whipped in a good cross from the right.

Just before the half-hour mark, a Manqele volley went agonisingly over the bar, but that was just about it from United in the first period.

Aces finally found a chink in the opposition armour, as left back Lehlogonolo Nonyane finished off a good move to get the hosts back on level terms just after the half-hour mark.

Aces should have gone ahead six minutes after equalising, but United right back Gert Barends put his body on the line to block a Collins Mbesuma shot.

Let off the hook by the hosts, United caretaker coach Dyaloyi brought in midfield hard man Buyani Sali just before the break to try and tame Aces’ Nigerian playmaker Onyekachi Okonkwo, who was running the show in midfield for the home side.

United were very fortunate to go into the break level and needed a better performance in the second period to get ahead, but they failed to deliver.

After Siyabulela Shai missed two chances early on in the second period, Manqele followed that up with one of the misses of the season, the player shooting wide when he only had the keeper to beat.

Meanwhile, Bidvest Wits had probably heard about enough of the carping about Kaizer Chiefs’ super-efficiency becoming the new Absa Premiership champions, the Clever Boys toughing out a 2-1 victory at FNB Stadium last night.

Henrico Botes put Wits ahead in the fifth minute, Siphiwe Tshabalala equalised for Chiefs in the 35th, then substitute Patrick Sekese nudged the Students ahead again in the 58th.

At the Harry Gwala Stadium, Maritzburg United kept up their hopes of a first ever top eight finish in the PSL and, at the same time, ended Orlando Pirates’ hopes of an African Champions League spot in a 1-1 home win last night.