Chippa United caretaker coach Siyabulela Gwambi is happy that he led the Chilli Boys to their first ever cup final.
The Gqeberha-based club beat GladAfrica Championship side Pretoria Callies 1-0 through Sandile Mthethwa’s goal in a Nedbank Cup semi-final clash at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Saturday afternoon.
“This means a lot, especially with myself just taken over as head coach. I was part of the games leading to the semi-finals. But now I was tasked with the responsibility and knowing that we are not in a good log standing. I think we have done pretty well evidently so that we have booked ourselves a place in the final,” Gwambi said.
“It was not going to be an easy game for us for many reasons. We dedicate this to the boys, people of the Eastern Cape and the club chairman.”
Gwambi from Zwide township in Gqeberha has admitted, though, that Callies were tough opponents.
“It was always going to be a case of who scores first. I think Callies is a good team let alone that they play in the GladAfrica Championship. Their plan frustrated us in some moments in the first half. They gave us a tough time,” said Gwambi.
Meanwhile, Callies coach Joel Masutha said that he knew that the match was going to be a very tight affair.
“The game went as we expected. We knew it was gonna a very tight match. We knew that only small margins were gonna determine the match. But I think the boys gave a very good account of themselves. We wanted to frustrate them by keeping the ball. It’s just that the boys were a little bit nervous. Good luck to Chippa in the final,” Masutha said.
