Though they are exhausted with two matches to go before the curtain comes down on the DStv Premiership season, Chippa United’s players have not given up on their dream of a top-eight finish.
The Gqeberha-based side play Royal AM at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday (3pm), in their second-last fixture of the season.
The Chilli Boys’ final league match will be against Sekhukhune United away.
Defender Ayabulela Konqobe said though the players were mentally and physically tired, they still had the energy to fight for that coveted top-eight finish.
But he said to keep their goal alive, they had to ensure they secured all six points still on offer this season.
Chippa are 11th on the log with 33 points from 28 matches.
“The mood has been good at camp, everyone is working hard,” Konqobe said.
“Everyone still has the same ambition and aim to get to the top eight.
“We have been working hard trying to make that goal a reality.
“Hopefully, things will go our way in these two games left — hopefully we will get the points that will secure a top-eight spot for us.
“To reach that goal we cannot drop any points.
“We need to either win or get a draw, but it’s very important for us not to drop points.
“For these last two games, it’s very important for us to be united as a team, to push one another ...
“It’s a different ball game this time around, we are not fighting for relegation but a top-eight spot.
“We are trying to get as far as possible from the bottom.
“It’s very demanding mentally, also the body is drained since it’s the end of the season, but also we know what we are fighting for.
“We know what we are all aiming for and what is going to help us going into the new season.
“Everyone wants to go home on a high, so I think everyone is of the same mentality — we need a top-eight finish so we can go home [and have] a good holiday.
“So I think that is the goal now.”
HeraldLIVE
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