Chippa United coach Thabo September believes his team has what it takes to finish the season on a high note despite their recent run of poor form in the Betway Premiership.
The Chilli Boys suffered their third consecutive defeat on Wednesday, going down 3-0 to log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Before that Chippa lost 1-0 to Stellenbosch and 2-0 to SuperSport United.
With two matches remaining, September is confident they will fulfil their aim of a top-eight finish this season.
The Gqeberha-based side missed out on cementing a place in the top eight on Wednesday with the heavy defeat to Sundowns.
Chippa remain in eighth place on the log despite their setback, but are under pressure from Kaizer Chiefs, Marumo Gallants, Richards Bay and Magesi, who are snapping at their heels.
“We need to get the best out of the two remaining games against Marumo away, and we have Sundowns at home,” September said.
“So, we need to be as professional as we can be to finish this season on a good note. We are looking forward to that.
“The top eight is still possible. We have two games left.
“If we get four points out of the two games left, then it’s possible.”
Wednesday’s victory means Sundowns need four points from their remaining three matches to clinch a record-extending eight successive league title, depending on how their nearest rivals Orlando Pirates perform.
The Brazilians have moved to 64 points from 25 outings, leading second-placed Pirates, who have two matches in hand, by 12 points.
Reflecting on Chippa’s loss, September said: “First half, there was good structure, and we knew that we were not going to have much of the ball at some moments, so we had to be disciplined, and we followed that.
“The moment that we lacked, Sundowns gave us a warning, and they almost scored from it.
“When we made another mistake, they punished us for that one.
“We did not have a shot at goal in the first half, but we did have an opportunity that could have been a goal.
“In the second half, I think with the changes, there was better energy.
“Changing the shape and going four at the back, then we started pressing high, we started creating chances, but again a mistake occurred and Sundowns punished us.
“We haven’t really made so many mistakes in a game this season; it’s a lack of concentration.”
Chippa’s final match of the season was initially scheduled for the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium but will now be played at East London’s Buffalo City Stadium.
The club said in a statement that the fixture was moved because the Bay stadium was not available for the match on the scheduled date of Wednesday May 14.
A high-ranking Chippa official said the Patriotic Alliance would be staging a rally at the stadium on Saturday next week (May 17) and would need to start setting up from as early as Wednesday, the day of the Chippa-Sundowns game.
The Herald
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