Chippa United head coach Thabo September has praised his players for being in the top eight as the season draws to an end.
He was speaking ahead of the Chilli Boys’ crucial league fixture against Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Wednesday (7pm).
With three games remaining in the Betway Premiership season, the Chilli Boys are in a good position to achieve their top-eight goal for the season.
The last time the Gqeberha-based side managed this was nine years ago under the leadership of coach Dan “Dance” Malesela, when they finished sixth on the log.
Since then, they have been battling relegation more often than not.
September, who joined the team midway last season, is confident his players have what it takes to deliver their top-eight promise to their supporters this season.
Despite their second consecutive defeat against SuperSport United at the weekend, Chippa remain eighth on the log with 30 points from 25 matches.
“We were a relegation team, now we are in the top eight,” September said.
“Congratulations to the players, they have put in a good season.
“After 25 games, there is the possibility of finishing in the top eight, so again, congratulations to the players for putting us in such a position.”
To keep their top-eight hopes alive though, September must devise a winning formula in the remaining three games against champions-elect Mamelodi Sundowns, home and away, and Marumo Gallants.
Chippa face Sundowns on Wednesday, and on Saturday, they play Gallants, with both fixtures away.
The coach said they would either have to get points in all their remaining fixtures or rely on other teams behind them to slip up to see their top-eight-finish plan come to fruition.
“Right now, we need to focus on Sundowns and try to get something out of the two games we play against them,” he said.
“We have Marumo Gallants in Bloemfontein, we need to get something also from that game.
“We can do the planning and work hard, but if it’s not for us, it’s not for us.
“We will do our best to get into the top eight.
“The opportunity is there, the points are saying we can get into the top eight.
“Until the points say we can’t get into the top eight, that’s when we’ll stop.
“It’s always tough for any team in the league to play against Sundowns.
“Also, we don’t do ourselves any justice when we lose our regular player [Sirgio] Kammies [to a red card against SuperSport United] in the dying minutes of the game, and you are going to play Sundowns.
“We will prepare for them, we have players, we will try to get a result out of Sundowns.”
The Herald
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