By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Stealing a point from SuperSport United in the dying minutes of the match has given Chippa United coach Daniel ‘Dance’ Malesela hope even though he has admitted that there is still a lot of work that he needs
to do at the Chilli Boys.
The Port Elizabeth-based club went to Lucas Moripe Stadium on the back of three losses, which resulted in former coach Lehlohonolo Seema getting the boot.
However, the Chilli Boys fought hard to draw 2-2 with Matsatsantsa a Pitori on Wednesday evening despite being under siege, especially in the first 15 minutes of the game.
‘‘Look, there are some good signs and there are some mistakes we need to correct. We struggled to defend set plays, we have to correct those things. We have to correct how we deal with aerial duels and combat them properly,’’ Malesela said.
‘‘We will work on what was exposed to me. Games are not the same.
Mistakes made in previous games may not be the same mistakes we made in this game.
‘‘But you cannot be selfish and not appreciate that we got a point away. There is a lot of positives that one can take. One of the biggest things we have to do is to release the fear of playing football. We know there is quite a number of games in January. We must try and eliminate losing wherever we can.’’
Veteran Andile Mbenyane and Maloisane Mokhele scored the important goals, which ensured that Malesela didn’t start his fourth stint at the Chilli Boys on a bad note. Bradley Grobler and Thamsanqa Gabuza
netted for Matsatsantsa.
Malesela, a former Manning Rangers, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates defender, praised 32-year-old Mbenyane’s effort during the game.
‘‘Andile is a talented player. There are other aspects of his game we need to work on. You know that there is progress when he is playing, he will be able to do something for us,’’ he said.
The Chilli Boys were hit by COVID-19 before travelling to Pretoria for the Matsatsantsa match.
Goalkeepers Mlungisi Mazibuko and Ismail Watenga as well as assistant coach Siya Gwambi tested positive of COVID-19 during the club’s routine tests conducted a few days ago.
Having only one goalkeeper (Ayanda Mtshali) to travel with, Malesela was forced to call up 20-year-old goalminder Kwanele Nkabi, who plays in the Chilli Boys’ reserves.
The Chilli Boys’ goalkeeping department has not been the same since they sold their former captain Veli Mothwa to AmaZulu in December.
Despite that, Malesela does not believe that they have a crisis in the goalkeeping department.
Meanwhile, the former Pirates captain is looking at beefing up his squad when the transfer window opens on the 18th of January.
‘‘To be honest we have always been planning to beef up the squad. I have noticed that we need to bring one more player somewhere. Players are difficult to come by. I don’t want to go crazy and bring players for the sake of bringing them,’’ he said.
The Chilli Boys are going to face Lamontville Golden Arrows away at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont, Durban, in their next match on Saturday.
