By VUYOKAZI NKANJENI
Chippa United coach Dan Malesela had no sooner returned to work yesterday when he said that he would be looking to fortify his team’s defensive line for this coming season.
Chippa United enjoyed a superb campaign last season finishing sixth after having fought off relegation the previous season.
It was a remarkable turnaround and Malesela knows if he wants his team to improve they need to be tighter at the back.
The former Cape Town All Stars coach aims to have the most solid defence in the league this season.
“I think what was lacking a bit was our defending and we almost got it right towards the end of the season,” said Malesela.
“I am looking at being a little more solid this season at the back with our defending so that we don’t concede.
“We didn’t have much of a problem in terms of scoring because, almost all our games we scored goals. So we just need to improve again maybe increase the number of goals that we scored.”
The coach said he has signed additional players already but will only reveal the names at a press conference on Wednesday.
“Yes I am working on that. The club will have a press conference where they will unveil all the new players. All the players that are here are here because I okayed everything.”
Players who have been linked to have signed with the Port Elizabeth-based team are Kaizer Chiefs striker Bongani Ndulula, Mbulelo Wambi from Vasco da Gama, ABC Motsepe league player Vusimuzi Ncube and striker George Akpabio.
Having just returned for holiday on Tuesday, Malesela wasted no time in beginning to get his team into shape with a stringent training session yesterday afternoon.
The players started arriving back in the city this week and there was a buzz of expectation around the camp.
Malesela has already organised 12 friendly games for the Chilli Boys as part of their pre-season training.
“We won’t have any local friendlies, that is the unfortunate part because they come with financial implications.
“We will only have friendlies during our camp in KwaZulu-Natal. We are not really going to Durban but on the outskirts of KZN.
“We will also have a short period in Johannesburg and play a couple of matches there.”
Chippa are scheduled to leave for their three-week pre-season camp on July 23.
According to Malesela, Chippa have lost the services of key players like James Okwuosa, Walter Maponyane, Nkosinathi Mthiyane and Erick Chipeta. He said there is a possibility that Joseph Molangoane may also exit the squad.
He said his new task will be to teach the new players what is expected of them and hopes that the pre-season training will be enough to do just that.
Meanwhile, Polokwane City have appointed Belgian coach Luc Eymael to lead the team in the 2016-17 season.
Eymael replaces the Brazilian Julio Leal‚ who was not retained after he could only manage a 13th-place finish in the league last season.
The 56-year-old Eymael has coached extensively on the African continent having made over 700 appearances as a goalkeeper for lower league clubs in Belgium and in the Netherlands.
He has long been linked to the Orlando Pirates coaching job‚ as far back as Roger de Sa’s spell in charge‚ but a deal failed to materialise.
A holder of a Uefa Pro Licence‚ the highest qualification in football‚ Eymael is credited with helping the development of a number of Belgium’s current stars‚ including Eden Hazard‚ Axel Witsel and Christian Benteke. — Additional reporting by Nick Said
Chippa coach plans to unveil his new signings
Chippa United coach Dan Malesela had no sooner returned to work yesterday when he said that he would be looking to fortify his team’s defensive line for this coming season.
Chippa United enjoyed a superb campaign last season finishing sixth after having fought off relegation the previous season.
It was a remarkable turnaround and Malesela knows if he wants his team to improve they need to be tighter at the back.
The former Cape Town All Stars coach aims to have the most solid defence in the league this season.
“I think what was lacking a bit was our defending and we almost got it right towards the end of the season,” said Malesela.
“I am looking at being a little more solid this season at the back with our defending so that we don’t concede.
“We didn’t have much of a problem in terms of scoring because, almost all our games we scored goals. So we just need to improve again maybe increase the number of goals that we scored.”
The coach said he has signed additional players already but will only reveal the names at a press conference on Wednesday.
“Yes I am working on that. The club will have a press conference where they will unveil all the new players. All the players that are here are here because I okayed everything.”
Players who have been linked to have signed with the Port Elizabeth-based team are Kaizer Chiefs striker Bongani Ndulula, Mbulelo Wambi from Vasco da Gama, ABC Motsepe league player Vusimuzi Ncube and striker George Akpabio.
Having just returned for holiday on Tuesday, Malesela wasted no time in beginning to get his team into shape with a stringent training session yesterday afternoon.
The players started arriving back in the city this week and there was a buzz of expectation around the camp.
Malesela has already organised 12 friendly games for the Chilli Boys as part of their pre-season training.
“We won’t have any local friendlies, that is the unfortunate part because they come with financial implications.
“We will only have friendlies during our camp in KwaZulu-Natal. We are not really going to Durban but on the outskirts of KZN.
“We will also have a short period in Johannesburg and play a couple of matches there.”
Chippa are scheduled to leave for their three-week pre-season camp on July 23.
According to Malesela, Chippa have lost the services of key players like James Okwuosa, Walter Maponyane, Nkosinathi Mthiyane and Erick Chipeta. He said there is a possibility that Joseph Molangoane may also exit the squad.
He said his new task will be to teach the new players what is expected of them and hopes that the pre-season training will be enough to do just that.
Meanwhile, Polokwane City have appointed Belgian coach Luc Eymael to lead the team in the 2016-17 season.
Eymael replaces the Brazilian Julio Leal‚ who was not retained after he could only manage a 13th-place finish in the league last season.
The 56-year-old Eymael has coached extensively on the African continent having made over 700 appearances as a goalkeeper for lower league clubs in Belgium and in the Netherlands.
He has long been linked to the Orlando Pirates coaching job‚ as far back as Roger de Sa’s spell in charge‚ but a deal failed to materialise.
A holder of a Uefa Pro Licence‚ the highest qualification in football‚ Eymael is credited with helping the development of a number of Belgium’s current stars‚ including Eden Hazard‚ Axel Witsel and Christian Benteke. — Additional reporting by Nick Said
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