Chippa must be mentally ready for Pirates — Hunt
● Chance for Chilli Boys to put campaign back on track in tough encounter at Bay stadium
A positive mentality is what Chippa United require to get one over Orlando Pirates, head coach Gavin Hunt says.
The sides meet in a DStv Premiership fixture at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium tomorrow (3pm).
A win against Soweto giants Pirates could be just what the doctor ordered to fast track the Gqeberha side’s recovery process after their recent loss.
Chippa suffered their first defeat of the season when they went down 1-0 to league rookies Royal AM at the Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday.
Victor Letsoalo scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot and handed Royal, who bought the Premier Division status of Bloemfontein Celtic, their first league victory of the season.
“We didn’t play too well especially from the first half, but in the second half we were really good,” Hunt said.
“I thought the penalty decision was harsh because it wasn’t a penalty.
“I mean that is football for you, so we have got to pick it up.
“I definitely thought we deserved a point there, but right now we are going to just have to get started again and get going again.”
The Chilli Boys began their league campaign on a high note with a 1-0 win against league debutants Sekhukhune United.
That result was followed by a goalless draw against league defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
Hunt, 57, is hoping his players rediscover their winning mindset going into the Pirates game.
“We had a shorter week because we couldn’t get back quicker from Durban.
“There is only one flight to PE, so we had to come back on Monday afternoon and that was a bit of a waste of a day.
“Otherwise, we are OK; at least we have another game right around the corner.
“Every game will give you different scenarios; the mentality is what we have to work on,” the coach said.
Chippa midfielder Thabiso Lebitso also wants his teammates to apply the same character they showed during their goalless draw with Sundowns in August.
“If we can have the same character we showed against Sundowns, the same way that we played, I think we can do well against Pirates as well,” Lebitso said.
“We have to work hard because we are playing against a big team which I believe we can beat.
“We really have to put in more effort to win this game.
“We also have to fix whatever went wrong [in the last game against Royal AM]. We just have to go there with the same approach we have shown before; the only thing we need to change is the character.”
The 29-year-old rightwinger highlighted an area where he thinks they also need to improve going forward.
“The most important thing for us is to score goals.
“We have already netted one goal against Sekhukhune.
“We have to score more goals to win matches,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pirates had a slow start in the league this season, but quickly found their feet.
The Buccaneers registered their first win at the weekend beating Moroka Swallows 1-0.
The victory comes after two consecutive draws against Stellenbosch and Marumo Gallants.
Saturday:Chippa v Pirates, Nelson Mandela Bay 3pm; Baroka v Sekhukhune, Peter Mokaba 5pm; Cape Town City v Stellenbosch, Athlone 5pm; Chiefs v Royal, FNB Stadium, 5pm.
Sunday: Swallows v SuperSport, Dobsonville, 3pm; Sundowns v Galaxy, Loftus Versfeld, 5pm.