CHIPPA United coach Kosta Papic is not feeling any pressure going into tonight’s game against Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium despite his side having lost their two previous games and are winless away from home.
Papic will be taking his seat on the Chilli Boys’ bench for the first time following his employers struggle to secure him a work permit and PSL registration card on time.
It now remains to be seen if having him where he belongs – on the touchline – will turn the fortunes of Chippa around. The Chilli Boys have lost two games and won one of their opening three matches.
“I’m not going to say why we lost those games because I was not on the bench but yes there will be a difference this time in that I will be able to give instructions directly to the players during the game.”
Papic said there was no pressure to start collecting points thick and fast.
“No pressure at all, there are 27 matches to go before the season reaches the end and we are not looking at winning the league but ours is to avoid relegation and every game is about three points,” he said.
Given that collecting points away from home is a difficult task in the PSL, Papic will be expected to at least secure a draw against Maritzburg.
If the Chilli Boys lose tonight’s game, they could possibly drop right down to 14th on the 16-team table depending on other results.
Added Papic: “We do not worry ourselves about who we are playing next and how other teams perform in their games. Our approach is one game at a time but you know situations have not been favourable to us because of the problems with work permits, that is my only worry.”
The newly-promoted Chippa, who have been relegated before, will know better that a team is flirting with relegation very early once they plunge into the bottom three positions of the league table and history has proven it is not easy to get out of that scary zone.
“I will keep on saying this, we are not going to be relegated,” Papic reiterated.
He hoped for on-song forward David Zulu to at least score a goal after netting twice in their last three matches.
“This is one player who will always deliver when called upon and I wish he features regularly for Bafana Bafana in the future,” said Papic.
Zulu said he was hoping to celebrate his Bafana call-up with a win.
He was included in the Bafana squad to play the two opening 2015 African Nations Cup qualifiers against Sudan and Nigeria next month.
“It’s a great honour to get a call-up to represent your country, it has always been my dream to play for Bafana Bafana,” said Zulu.
“I have been enjoying my game at Chippa, I just need to keep on working hard and contribute to the success of the club by scoring more goals.
“I hope to get one or two goals against Maritzburg United. They are a good team, but we want to beat them in their own back yard.
“It is important we do not get out of the top 10 bracket; the team we have assembled is a good one but we need to be consistent.
“A top-eight finish will be good for us after returning to the PSL,” said Zulu.
The Team of Choice, who are currently seventh with four points from three matches, will be looking for maximum points to consolidate their position in the top eight. — Additional reporting by Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Chilli Boys shrug off pressure
Papic will be taking his seat on the Chilli Boys’ bench for the first time following his employers struggle to secure him a work permit and PSL registration card on time.
It now remains to be seen if having him where he belongs – on the touchline – will turn the fortunes of Chippa around. The Chilli Boys have lost two games and won one of their opening three matches.
“I’m not going to say why we lost those games because I was not on the bench but yes there will be a difference this time in that I will be able to give instructions directly to the players during the game.”
Papic said there was no pressure to start collecting points thick and fast.
“No pressure at all, there are 27 matches to go before the season reaches the end and we are not looking at winning the league but ours is to avoid relegation and every game is about three points,” he said.
Given that collecting points away from home is a difficult task in the PSL, Papic will be expected to at least secure a draw against Maritzburg.
If the Chilli Boys lose tonight’s game, they could possibly drop right down to 14th on the 16-team table depending on other results.
Added Papic: “We do not worry ourselves about who we are playing next and how other teams perform in their games. Our approach is one game at a time but you know situations have not been favourable to us because of the problems with work permits, that is my only worry.”
The newly-promoted Chippa, who have been relegated before, will know better that a team is flirting with relegation very early once they plunge into the bottom three positions of the league table and history has proven it is not easy to get out of that scary zone.
“I will keep on saying this, we are not going to be relegated,” Papic reiterated.
He hoped for on-song forward David Zulu to at least score a goal after netting twice in their last three matches.
“This is one player who will always deliver when called upon and I wish he features regularly for Bafana Bafana in the future,” said Papic.
Zulu said he was hoping to celebrate his Bafana call-up with a win.
He was included in the Bafana squad to play the two opening 2015 African Nations Cup qualifiers against Sudan and Nigeria next month.
“It’s a great honour to get a call-up to represent your country, it has always been my dream to play for Bafana Bafana,” said Zulu.
“I have been enjoying my game at Chippa, I just need to keep on working hard and contribute to the success of the club by scoring more goals.
“I hope to get one or two goals against Maritzburg United. They are a good team, but we want to beat them in their own back yard.
“It is important we do not get out of the top 10 bracket; the team we have assembled is a good one but we need to be consistent.
“A top-eight finish will be good for us after returning to the PSL,” said Zulu.
The Team of Choice, who are currently seventh with four points from three matches, will be looking for maximum points to consolidate their position in the top eight. — Additional reporting by Ramatsiyi Moholoa
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