By VUYOKAZI NKANJENI and TSHEPANG MAILWANE
Chippa United face the unenviable task of attempting to rescue their flagging fortunes against Soweto giants Orlando Pirates in their PSL fixture at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium tonight (7.30pm).
The Chilli Boys are in the middle of a winless run which has seen them slide down the table.
They have been without a win in five of their previous league games with their most recent result being a 2-1 defeat against Cape Town City at the weekend.
That loss was the Chilli Boys’ first defeat at home this season.
The team last tasted victory last month when they beat league rookies Baroka 4-1 away in September.
Coach Dan Malesela says his team needs to be more solid at the back as they have been conceding unnecessary goals of late.
But more importantly they needed to do something about getting the ball in the net.
“The biggest of it all is to see us converting our chances because we are creating. We need to stop conceding because we have conceded in almost all the games we have played.”
The Port Elizabeth side have dropped to 10th place on the log with nine points from eight matches.
Meanwhile the Soweto giants will be out to collect a second consecutive win tonight against Chippa, after their win against Free State Stars at the weekend.
In head to head stats Pirates and Chippa have met in six league matches since the 2012-13 season.
Chippa have claimed three victories compared to two for the Buccaneers, while one match was a draw.
Last season Pirates beat Chippa 4-1 in the first leg of the league but the Chilli Boys got revenge with a 2-0 home win in the second leg.
Meanwhile, Pirates interim coach Augusto Palacios looks set to award Jackson Mabokgwane for keeping a clean slate against Free State Stars at the weekend with another start today.
Mabokgwane made his Pirates debut in Bucs' victory over Stars, coming in for Brighton Mhlongo who had diarrhoea.
Palacios suggested he would start with Mabokgwane today.
“He came back to training today . Remember what is my philosophy. If a player performs, then you play. It does not matter if you were in the national team. If he keeps a clean sheet, then he is okay. He needs to wait,” the Peruvian said.
Palacios is so far proving to be the fixer at Pirates, with two victories in as many matches since he took over from Muhsin Ertugral.
Both wins – in the cup and another in the league – have come at Orlando Stadium but now Bucs are away for the first time with their coach and face a Chippa side that has fallen from grace after a fantastic start to the campaign.
Despite a poor run of form, Palacios is not taking Chippa lightly, though he warned that Pirates will never sit back and play for a point away from home.
“Chippa at this moment are not doing well. It will be a difficult game, because apart from them not doing well, I think they play attacking football. Take nothing away from them, they can surprise you,” said Palacios.
“Home or away, Pirates need to play football and have a winning mentality. We cannot go away from home and play for a point. We are always playing for a win.”
Chilli Boys gunning for Bucs scalp
Chippa United face the unenviable task of attempting to rescue their flagging fortunes against Soweto giants Orlando Pirates in their PSL fixture at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium tonight (7.30pm).
The Chilli Boys are in the middle of a winless run which has seen them slide down the table.
They have been without a win in five of their previous league games with their most recent result being a 2-1 defeat against Cape Town City at the weekend.
That loss was the Chilli Boys’ first defeat at home this season.
The team last tasted victory last month when they beat league rookies Baroka 4-1 away in September.
Coach Dan Malesela says his team needs to be more solid at the back as they have been conceding unnecessary goals of late.
But more importantly they needed to do something about getting the ball in the net.
“The biggest of it all is to see us converting our chances because we are creating. We need to stop conceding because we have conceded in almost all the games we have played.”
The Port Elizabeth side have dropped to 10th place on the log with nine points from eight matches.
Meanwhile the Soweto giants will be out to collect a second consecutive win tonight against Chippa, after their win against Free State Stars at the weekend.
In head to head stats Pirates and Chippa have met in six league matches since the 2012-13 season.
Chippa have claimed three victories compared to two for the Buccaneers, while one match was a draw.
Last season Pirates beat Chippa 4-1 in the first leg of the league but the Chilli Boys got revenge with a 2-0 home win in the second leg.
Meanwhile, Pirates interim coach Augusto Palacios looks set to award Jackson Mabokgwane for keeping a clean slate against Free State Stars at the weekend with another start today.
Mabokgwane made his Pirates debut in Bucs' victory over Stars, coming in for Brighton Mhlongo who had diarrhoea.
Palacios suggested he would start with Mabokgwane today.
“He came back to training today . Remember what is my philosophy. If a player performs, then you play. It does not matter if you were in the national team. If he keeps a clean sheet, then he is okay. He needs to wait,” the Peruvian said.
Palacios is so far proving to be the fixer at Pirates, with two victories in as many matches since he took over from Muhsin Ertugral.
Both wins – in the cup and another in the league – have come at Orlando Stadium but now Bucs are away for the first time with their coach and face a Chippa side that has fallen from grace after a fantastic start to the campaign.
Despite a poor run of form, Palacios is not taking Chippa lightly, though he warned that Pirates will never sit back and play for a point away from home.
“Chippa at this moment are not doing well. It will be a difficult game, because apart from them not doing well, I think they play attacking football. Take nothing away from them, they can surprise you,” said Palacios.
“Home or away, Pirates need to play football and have a winning mentality. We cannot go away from home and play for a point. We are always playing for a win.”
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