Struggling Eastern Cape side Chippa United’s search for their second win of the season has taken them to Durban.
The Chilli Boys face Lamontville Golden Arrows in a DStv Premiership fixture at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, Clermont, on Saturday (15h30).
Of utmost importance for the Chilli Boys at the moment is ensuring that they don’t lose another match having already lost five games while they have won once and drawn three times since the season began in October.
And Chilli Boys midfielder Mduduzi Sibeko goes to the Arrows match hoping that the club’s 2-2 draw with SuperSport United in
Atteridgeville on Wednesday will spare them on against Abafana Bes’thende.
‘‘The mood is very, very good even though we didn’t get the result we wanted against SuperSport. We have a very good coach who understands his players well,’ Sibeko said.
‘‘You can’t get a chance to play if you don’t work hard here. Players who played for the coach before are helping us understand him better and are also giving us some positive input on how the coach wants us to play.’’
With the Chilli Boys’ only win achieved a long time ago, Sibeko is looking at a better performance and a win against Arrows.
‘‘We have to get the results, we must get maximum points against Golden Arrows. We have to fight and fight to save the team because we were in the same situation last season. We have a bit of a challenge now because we play games away because of COVID-19.’’
The Chilli Boys swapped matches with other clubs because the Eastern Cape, particularly Port Elizabeth where they are based, is a hot pot with COVID-19 cases rising daily.
Earlier this week, the Chilli Boys were hit by COVID-19 before travelling to Pretoria for the Wednesday’s match against Matsatsantsa a Pitori.
Routine tests conducted by the club found that goalkeepers Mlungisi Mazibuko and Ismail Watenga as well as assistant coach Siya Gwambi were COVID-19 positive.
The turn of events forced Malesela to call up 20-year-old goalkeeper Kwanele Nkabi, who plays for the club’s reserves. Nkani deputised Ayanda Mtshali during the Matsatsantsa clash.
The Chilli Boys’ goalkeeping department has not been the same since they sold their former captain Veli Mothwa to AmaZulu in December.
