Chippa United captain James Okwuosa says the team will make full use of their home advantage when they hunt for their third consecutive league victory against SuperSport tonight at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (7.30pm).
The Chilli Boys’ second successive win was when they recently beat Maritzburg United 2-0 away.
This was the Bay side’s first triumph on the road this season.
Roger Sikhakhane’s troops will also be hoping to maintain their unbeaten run at home tonight.
Chippa are ninth on the PSL log with 10 points from seven games.
Okwuosa believes the away win has boosted the players’ confidence ahead of their clash with SuperSport.
“The team has prepared well and is in good shape for tonight’s game. Playing at home is a good thing. It’s a big advantage, we will try to capitalise on that.
“We are going to make sure that we keep the good run at home alive. We also want to try to keep a clean sheet at home and also get the necessary points.”
The Nigerian defender says the squad is injury free.
“We don’t have any injuries and everybody is upright. Everyone is highly motivated despite the fact that we will be playing two league matches in one week.
“Coming from Maritzburg that was a huge win for us. It really boosted the team’s confidence. We will be hoping to pick up from there and keep our good run,” Okwuosa said.
Chippa have never won against the Tshwana side at home despite having met in four league matches.
In 2012/13 season the Chilli Boys played to a 2-2 draw and lost 2-1 last season against SuperSport.
“We know that SuperSport are not an easy team to play against. It’s just unfortunate that now the results are not coming their way,” Okwuosa said.
“They are more like wounded lions and there is a lot of pressure on them. They are trying to gain their confidence back.
“We are not going to sit down, we will also fight. It will be a tough game but we are ready for them.”
He said Aristide Bance has been a great asset to the team.
“Bance is an international player. He is someone who is very experienced. He has played overseas and he is somebody who relates with the players.
“The players have affected him in a good way and I think that has kept him going.”
The Chilli Boys will be without key players Thamsanqa Sangqweni and Joseph Molangoane who are suspended.
So far this season Chippa have found the net on 11 occasions in their opening seven matches.
Meanwhile, SuperSport coach Gordon Igesund hopes his side have finally turned the corner as they prepare for a tricky away day.
SuperSport’s dismal league form, in which they have taken just five points from the first 21 available this season, has, according to reports, put Igesund’s job on the line.
But the mood was much brighter in the team following their comprehensive 3-1 victory over Lamontville Golden Arrows in the Telkom Knockout quarterfinals at the weekend, which left Igesund purring over their performance.
“It has been tough for the team because they know they are better than that and they have been working hard and giving everything,” Igesund told reporters.
“It is just the mistakes that we make that we are getting punished for.”
Four league losses in a row have Matsatsantsa just one place above the relegation playoff position and although it seems highly unlikely they will be sucked into the drop-zone, Igesund admits their need for points is reaching desperate levels.
“We need to try and get some points in the bag now so that we can move up ,” he said. “When I look at the log I see that the team in sixth is only five or six points ahead of us so if you win two games you are right there.” — Additional reporting by Nick Said
Chippa in mean mood
The Chilli Boys’ second successive win was when they recently beat Maritzburg United 2-0 away.
This was the Bay side’s first triumph on the road this season.
Roger Sikhakhane’s troops will also be hoping to maintain their unbeaten run at home tonight.
Chippa are ninth on the PSL log with 10 points from seven games.
Okwuosa believes the away win has boosted the players’ confidence ahead of their clash with SuperSport.
“The team has prepared well and is in good shape for tonight’s game. Playing at home is a good thing. It’s a big advantage, we will try to capitalise on that.
“We are going to make sure that we keep the good run at home alive. We also want to try to keep a clean sheet at home and also get the necessary points.”
The Nigerian defender says the squad is injury free.
“We don’t have any injuries and everybody is upright. Everyone is highly motivated despite the fact that we will be playing two league matches in one week.
“Coming from Maritzburg that was a huge win for us. It really boosted the team’s confidence. We will be hoping to pick up from there and keep our good run,” Okwuosa said.
Chippa have never won against the Tshwana side at home despite having met in four league matches.
In 2012/13 season the Chilli Boys played to a 2-2 draw and lost 2-1 last season against SuperSport.
“We know that SuperSport are not an easy team to play against. It’s just unfortunate that now the results are not coming their way,” Okwuosa said.
“They are more like wounded lions and there is a lot of pressure on them. They are trying to gain their confidence back.
“We are not going to sit down, we will also fight. It will be a tough game but we are ready for them.”
He said Aristide Bance has been a great asset to the team.
“Bance is an international player. He is someone who is very experienced. He has played overseas and he is somebody who relates with the players.
“The players have affected him in a good way and I think that has kept him going.”
The Chilli Boys will be without key players Thamsanqa Sangqweni and Joseph Molangoane who are suspended.
So far this season Chippa have found the net on 11 occasions in their opening seven matches.
Meanwhile, SuperSport coach Gordon Igesund hopes his side have finally turned the corner as they prepare for a tricky away day.
SuperSport’s dismal league form, in which they have taken just five points from the first 21 available this season, has, according to reports, put Igesund’s job on the line.
But the mood was much brighter in the team following their comprehensive 3-1 victory over Lamontville Golden Arrows in the Telkom Knockout quarterfinals at the weekend, which left Igesund purring over their performance.
“It has been tough for the team because they know they are better than that and they have been working hard and giving everything,” Igesund told reporters.
“It is just the mistakes that we make that we are getting punished for.”
Four league losses in a row have Matsatsantsa just one place above the relegation playoff position and although it seems highly unlikely they will be sucked into the drop-zone, Igesund admits their need for points is reaching desperate levels.
“We need to try and get some points in the bag now so that we can move up ,” he said. “When I look at the log I see that the team in sixth is only five or six points ahead of us so if you win two games you are right there.” — Additional reporting by Nick Said
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