Chippa United assistant coach Mbuyiselo Sambu said winning against his former mentor Ernst Middendorp, who is now in charge of Maritzburg United, would be a proud moment for him.
Chippa play the Team of Choice in a league fixture at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (kickoff 3.30pm) on Sunday.
Last season the Peddie-born and former Platinum Stars player played under the leadership of the German coach during his stay at Chippa.
“I was his student and this game will give me the opportunity to show him what I have learnt from him,” said Sambu.
“There is nothing personal. I know he needs the points but for me as a coach now and as his former student it would be a very proud moment for me if I could come up with a victory that day.”
Sambu, 32, said the players were working hard at training in preparation for their game on Sunday.
“We had to really push the players so there were departments where the coach saw we were lacking in,” the assistant coach said.
“The two weeks break gave us time to work on those issues. Not to treat games different, give all our matches the same approach,” he said.
The former Bloemfontein Celtic defender said the two previous matches where they only managed to get a point from a possible six was a big setback.
“We have a target that we have set for ourselves. The games that we didn’t do great in did set us back and our confidence was knocked as well.
“But our target is to stay in the top eight and the best way to do that is to make sure that we win our remaining games.
“Other teams are scoring goals and we are also working on that because now we are behind Orlando Pirates due to goal difference.
“We do not score enough goals and that is one the thing that the coach is also focusing on.”
Sambu said his players must be prepared to fight as their opponents would not easily back down and hand them the three points.
Chippa will be looking to clinch their first home win against struggling Maritzburg United when they host the KwaZulu-Natal.
But most importantly, the Chilli Boys will be looking to get back to their winning ways in the league and get the much-needed three points.
In their five league meetings since 2012-13 Maritzburg have managed to record three wins. Chippa have won and the other has been drawn.
It may be Chippa of old block for Sambu
Chippa play the Team of Choice in a league fixture at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (kickoff 3.30pm) on Sunday.
Last season the Peddie-born and former Platinum Stars player played under the leadership of the German coach during his stay at Chippa.
“I was his student and this game will give me the opportunity to show him what I have learnt from him,” said Sambu.
“There is nothing personal. I know he needs the points but for me as a coach now and as his former student it would be a very proud moment for me if I could come up with a victory that day.”
Sambu, 32, said the players were working hard at training in preparation for their game on Sunday.
“We had to really push the players so there were departments where the coach saw we were lacking in,” the assistant coach said.
“The two weeks break gave us time to work on those issues. Not to treat games different, give all our matches the same approach,” he said.
The former Bloemfontein Celtic defender said the two previous matches where they only managed to get a point from a possible six was a big setback.
“We have a target that we have set for ourselves. The games that we didn’t do great in did set us back and our confidence was knocked as well.
“But our target is to stay in the top eight and the best way to do that is to make sure that we win our remaining games.
“Other teams are scoring goals and we are also working on that because now we are behind Orlando Pirates due to goal difference.
“We do not score enough goals and that is one the thing that the coach is also focusing on.”
Sambu said his players must be prepared to fight as their opponents would not easily back down and hand them the three points.
Chippa will be looking to clinch their first home win against struggling Maritzburg United when they host the KwaZulu-Natal.
But most importantly, the Chilli Boys will be looking to get back to their winning ways in the league and get the much-needed three points.
In their five league meetings since 2012-13 Maritzburg have managed to record three wins. Chippa have won and the other has been drawn.
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