Mzinzi pleased Chippa avoided slip-up
Chippa United executive director Lukhanyo Mzinzi is relieved the team successfully navigated a tricky fixture in beating ABC Motsepe league side NC Pros 21 in the Nedbank Cup last 32 at the Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium in Upington on Sunday.
Goals from Bienvenu Eva Nga and Kayden Francis saw the Gqeberha-based side progress to the next stage of the competition.
Mzinzi admitted playing against lower-division teams who wanted to prove themselves could be tough but he was satisfied with his side’s performance on the day.
He hopes the Chilli Boys will take their hunger for victory to the last 16 of the competition.
“We played very well against Northern Cape side NC Pros,” Mzinzi said.
“It’s a challenge when playing against the smaller teams.
“As you will have seen from other results, the small teams give a good account of themselves against PSL clubs, so we had to take the match seriously.
“It was good to see our player who returned to us from Orlando Pirates, [Bienvenu] Eva Nga, score the first goal.
“He’s a joy to the club and the people of the Eastern Cape.
“Also, our player [Kayden] Francis who plays in our MDC side from the Northern Areas scored the second goal and the winner.
“He’s a youngster who we believe in and that we are investing in, and I think he has always done well in the Nedbank Cup.
“It was good for us to win the first match and we need to go all the way.
“We have been to the final before, and semifinals twice, and many times to the quarterfinals.
“It’s time we really put up a challenge and I hope that we go all the way to the final.”
Mzinzi also applauded the two incoming co-coaches, Kwanele Kopo and Thabo September.
It was their second positive result at the helm.
Kopo and September led the team to a goalless draw against league contenders Cape Town City in their opening DStv Premiership encounter.
“The two coaches have started very well so far.
“We played against No 2 in the league, Cape Town City, last week.
“I felt we should have won that game but Cape Town City is not a small game.
“We played at a capacity stadium in East London and we were happy with the turnout.
“We are expecting another tough match on Friday against Stellenbosch but we are capable of handling the pressure.”
The club also announced the signing of former Cape Town City and Cape Town Spurs goalkeeper Darren Johnson.
Asked about Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali’s future at Chippa, Mzinzi said: “Stanley is our player, we’ll only take offers for him at the end of the season.
“The stability of the club is very important and we want to finish the league in a very comfortable position this season.”*