Chippa United have been dealt a double blow ahead of their Premier Soccer League fixture against Cape Town City at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
The Port Elizabeth side will be without key players Marc van Heerden and Thamsanqa Sangweni in their crucial match against City at the weekend.
“Marc has a personal issue and Thami is still recovering from a hamstring injury. So those are the people who are out for now,” said Malesela.
Asked if the absence of the two players could affect his plans for Saturday’s game, the coach said: “It depends how you react. When players are out it’s a chance for other players to play.
“So when they are given that chance they must take it and use it. There is always a chance in football for you to prove yourself. I think these players must come up and say ‘Hey, I am here’.”
The Chilli Boys have not won a league match in their last four outings, with their most recent result being a 1-0 loss to Bidvest Wits. They are now eighth on the log with nine points from seven games. Chippa have lost two, drawn three and only won two of their matches.
The last time Chippa tasted victory was against Baroka, when they beat the league rookies 4-1 in their own backyard. Malesela says a win against City was vital.
Before the international break, the former Cape Town All Stars coach said he would use the break to work on getting the perfect starting 11.
He said he was just a few steps away from getting the perfect formula. “I think we are getting closer at getting a solid starting line-up. But it always depends on the results and the performance of the team on the day. If the performance is good and the results are good then you say ‘Okay fine, can we go on with it, yes we can’.
“For the past week or so, the group we looking at as the possible starting 11 has been looking good.”
Chippa have been struggling to put the ball in the net lately and have only scored once in their four previous games.
Malesela said scoring was one of the key areas the team had been working on during the break. He said the acquisition of experienced striker Katlego Mashego was testimony to the fact that they wanted to improve on goalscoring in the club.
“Mashego is a seasoned player I think all we need to do is to set him up, set him free and he will do the rest. He has also been brought in to mentor the younger strikers in the team.”
Chilli Boys suffer double blow
The Port Elizabeth side will be without key players Marc van Heerden and Thamsanqa Sangweni in their crucial match against City at the weekend.
“Marc has a personal issue and Thami is still recovering from a hamstring injury. So those are the people who are out for now,” said Malesela.
Asked if the absence of the two players could affect his plans for Saturday’s game, the coach said: “It depends how you react. When players are out it’s a chance for other players to play.
“So when they are given that chance they must take it and use it. There is always a chance in football for you to prove yourself. I think these players must come up and say ‘Hey, I am here’.”
The Chilli Boys have not won a league match in their last four outings, with their most recent result being a 1-0 loss to Bidvest Wits. They are now eighth on the log with nine points from seven games. Chippa have lost two, drawn three and only won two of their matches.
The last time Chippa tasted victory was against Baroka, when they beat the league rookies 4-1 in their own backyard. Malesela says a win against City was vital.
Before the international break, the former Cape Town All Stars coach said he would use the break to work on getting the perfect starting 11.
He said he was just a few steps away from getting the perfect formula. “I think we are getting closer at getting a solid starting line-up. But it always depends on the results and the performance of the team on the day. If the performance is good and the results are good then you say ‘Okay fine, can we go on with it, yes we can’.
“For the past week or so, the group we looking at as the possible starting 11 has been looking good.”
Chippa have been struggling to put the ball in the net lately and have only scored once in their four previous games.
Malesela said scoring was one of the key areas the team had been working on during the break. He said the acquisition of experienced striker Katlego Mashego was testimony to the fact that they wanted to improve on goalscoring in the club.
“Mashego is a seasoned player I think all we need to do is to set him up, set him free and he will do the rest. He has also been brought in to mentor the younger strikers in the team.”
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