Chippa United may find themselves looking for a new coach as soon as today after their incumbent mentor Dan Malesela threatened to quit following yesterday’s 3-2 defeat of his side by NFD log leaders Baroka FC at the Buffalo City Stadium yesterday.
An upset Malesela, during the post-match interview, said he was seriously considering his future at the club as he felt his charges’ showing in the match smacked of sabotage.
The former Orlando Pirates man stated that today would be D-Day for him to decide whether he would stay on at Chippa or move on.
“It is either players take my instructions and execute them or else I leave, that is my stance now,” said a visibly irate Malesela.
“I mean in our defending today, you cannot be as pathetic as we were.
“I am not going to stay here to embarrass myself and lower my dignity and reputation like that,” he said. “I mean you begin to ask yourself questions as to why because when players do not want to play and you take them out, they still become arrogant.”
Asked what was the way forward, he answered: “I will see tomorrow what I think.”
The Chilli Boys loss completed what was an embarrassing week for Eastern Cape football in the Nedbank Cup last 32.
All three clubs, namely Chippa; Mthatha Bucks and EC Bees that were representing the province in the lucrative cup competition worth R7 million for the overall winner have been bombed out of the competition after Bucks lost 1-0 to Santos on Tuesday while Bees were sent packing by Magesi FC courtesy of a 2-1 final score.
Back to yesterday’s match, throughout the first stanza Chippa’s wing play was dead, thanks to the absence of Joseph Molangoane who is serving his suspension and Nkosinathi Mthiyane at the left.
Also at the centre of the park, Thamsanqa Sangweni who usually makes the Chilli Boys tick was just flat on the day as though he did not want to play.
In what has now become normality for Chippa, their suspect defence led by captain James Okwuosa was found wanting whenever the visitors were on the attack.
As a result, Jacky Motshegwa put Baroka in front in the 27th minutes from a setpiece on the D-line after Erick Chipeta and Okwuosa downed Sphamandla Sangweni.
Barely five minutes later, Chippa backline again went to sleep and were severely punished by Loyiso Simandla who fired in the second one for the visitors.
It was just before the half-time break that Xola Mlambo found Andile Mbenyane whose thunderous strike found the back of the net putting the score at 2-1 at the interval.
Back from the break the hosts came back a much improved side, launching attacks against what seemed to be a tired Baroka side.
But that only lasted until the first third point of the second half when Motshegwa slotted in his brace, extending the visitors lead to a two-goal lead once again.
This though did not deter the home side who pressed on with their attacks and were as such rewarded when Baroka’s last man of defence Veli Mothwa committed a blunder and Rhulani Manzini was there to pick up the pieces as he placed the ball in with ease for the hosts’ second.
The defeat was the first for Chilli Boys in East London.
However, this was not the only first of the day as crowd turnout also dropped spectacularly.
East London football supporters appear to be revolting against Chippa’s decision to move some of the matches back to Port Elizabeth.
This was evident in yesterday’s match attendance where the East stand was barely half full with the upper tier perhaps with 200 people while the lower tier was half full.
This was in direct contrast with the numbers seen in the two other matches the club hosted in Buffalo City where football lovers in the metro packed the venue to the rafters.
Baroka coach Kgoloko Thobejane said his side will go all the way.
Malesela threatens to leave Chippa after shock defeat
An upset Malesela, during the post-match interview, said he was seriously considering his future at the club as he felt his charges’ showing in the match smacked of sabotage.
The former Orlando Pirates man stated that today would be D-Day for him to decide whether he would stay on at Chippa or move on.
“It is either players take my instructions and execute them or else I leave, that is my stance now,” said a visibly irate Malesela.
“I mean in our defending today, you cannot be as pathetic as we were.
“I am not going to stay here to embarrass myself and lower my dignity and reputation like that,” he said. “I mean you begin to ask yourself questions as to why because when players do not want to play and you take them out, they still become arrogant.”
Asked what was the way forward, he answered: “I will see tomorrow what I think.”
The Chilli Boys loss completed what was an embarrassing week for Eastern Cape football in the Nedbank Cup last 32.
All three clubs, namely Chippa; Mthatha Bucks and EC Bees that were representing the province in the lucrative cup competition worth R7 million for the overall winner have been bombed out of the competition after Bucks lost 1-0 to Santos on Tuesday while Bees were sent packing by Magesi FC courtesy of a 2-1 final score.
Back to yesterday’s match, throughout the first stanza Chippa’s wing play was dead, thanks to the absence of Joseph Molangoane who is serving his suspension and Nkosinathi Mthiyane at the left.
Also at the centre of the park, Thamsanqa Sangweni who usually makes the Chilli Boys tick was just flat on the day as though he did not want to play.
In what has now become normality for Chippa, their suspect defence led by captain James Okwuosa was found wanting whenever the visitors were on the attack.
As a result, Jacky Motshegwa put Baroka in front in the 27th minutes from a setpiece on the D-line after Erick Chipeta and Okwuosa downed Sphamandla Sangweni.
Barely five minutes later, Chippa backline again went to sleep and were severely punished by Loyiso Simandla who fired in the second one for the visitors.
It was just before the half-time break that Xola Mlambo found Andile Mbenyane whose thunderous strike found the back of the net putting the score at 2-1 at the interval.
Back from the break the hosts came back a much improved side, launching attacks against what seemed to be a tired Baroka side.
But that only lasted until the first third point of the second half when Motshegwa slotted in his brace, extending the visitors lead to a two-goal lead once again.
This though did not deter the home side who pressed on with their attacks and were as such rewarded when Baroka’s last man of defence Veli Mothwa committed a blunder and Rhulani Manzini was there to pick up the pieces as he placed the ball in with ease for the hosts’ second.
The defeat was the first for Chilli Boys in East London.
However, this was not the only first of the day as crowd turnout also dropped spectacularly.
East London football supporters appear to be revolting against Chippa’s decision to move some of the matches back to Port Elizabeth.
This was evident in yesterday’s match attendance where the East stand was barely half full with the upper tier perhaps with 200 people while the lower tier was half full.
This was in direct contrast with the numbers seen in the two other matches the club hosted in Buffalo City where football lovers in the metro packed the venue to the rafters.
Baroka coach Kgoloko Thobejane said his side will go all the way.
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