Mokwena plots Chippa rescue plan
Chippa United coach Rhulani Mokwena is optimistic he will save the team from relegation.
Mokwena, who joined Chippa on loan from Orlando Pirates last week, replacing Norman Mapeza, started his tenure with a goalless draw against Bidvest Wits at the Bidvest Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday.
And his focus is to make sure the Chilli Boys remain in the Premiership next season.
Chippa are 11th on the Absa Premiership log standings, six points ahead of bottom side Black Leopards and three ahead of Baroka FC, Polokwane City and AmaZulu, who are all tied on 23.
“We don’t even think of anything else except trying to make sure that we look for 30 points,” Mokwena said.
“If we start to look for the top eight and other things, we will have very little motivation.
“So you start looking at what is reachable, and 30 points are reachable.
“We work towards that and once we stabilise the team, which is what we have been asked to come and do, we secure its Premiership status.”
Mokwena has been idle since he was replaced by Josef Zinnbauer at Pirates in December before joining Chippa.
He believes this was the right time for him to make a comeback and will only worry about his future when the season ends.
“I took my time and I made the right decision, I think, to come to Chippa.
“There were other offers but I was waiting for the right project — a short-term situation to try to help the team,” Mokwena said.
“I’m not even thinking about the long term; I want to focus on the short term and assist the club in staying in the PSL.
“The other things we will see after the season.”
The 35-year-old was also pleased with a point against Wits away, having only had one training session with the team after he was appointed.
“Very difficult game for us away from home.
“We came with only one real training session after our arrival and of course there is not a lot you can do from a tactical perspective.
“But what helped is that we could manipulate the situation and try to improve the team using a lot of video footage.
“We watched the last five games of Chippa and that helped us a lot. ”—