Chippa United assistant coach Mbuyiselo Sambu admitted that the team failed to create a lot of scoring chances in their 0-0 draw against Bidvest Wits at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on Tuesday.
But he was happy with the point they managed against the table-topping Clever Boys. Sambu and fellow assistant coach Zipho Dlangalala were in charge of the Eastern Cape outfit for the first time this season as head coach Dan “Dance” Malesela is still recovering in an undisclosed Port Elizabeth hospital with a suspected heart condition.
In a surprising move, the two assistant coaches broke up the midfield combination of captain Thamsanqa Sangweni, Buyani Sali and Sandile Zuke, which has dominated and dictated the pace for the Chilli Boys this season.
They opted to go with Xolani Mdaki in the middle of the park with Zuke dropped to the bench.
The move had many doubting the strategy as Zuke has been an integral part of the team.
So what was the thinking behind this?
“First of all I think we will take a point from Wits. You know Wits is a very difficult team to play but we tried to play our normal game in terms of passing, but we didn’t create a lot of scoring opportunities.
“The thinking was, we wanted to play more forward passes. He was not doing that bad in terms of giving us that balance in terms of defensive play, but we wanted to play more of penetrating passes going forward – that was the only reason behind the change,” Sambu told journalists after the game.
However, that did not turn out as planned as Chippa played one of their most dull games this season.
They failed to penetrate Wits with striker Lerato Manzini only getting his first touch in the 38th minute.
Things changed when Zuke was introduced in place of left-back Paseka Mako. Mdaki dropped back into central defence to make way for Zuke in the middle of the park, while Diamond Thopola was moved to left-back.
The tactical move saw Chippa playing more enterprising football with Zuke spraying a defence-splitting pass to Manzini.
Sambu had no regret with going for Mdaki.
“In football you have to make decisions, there’s no time . Had it worked, we would have been celebrating. But I think it’s good for us to have those players to give us that balance when we have to make those necessary changes,” he said.
Sambu admitted that he still has a lot to learn from Malesela. While Chippa maintained their unbeaten record in Mdantsane, this was the team’s fifth draw this year.
This has resulted in the Chilli Boys being in position 11. They will have to start turning the draws into wins if they are to finish in the top eight, as the team is targeting.
“We are aware of the situation because there’s not too much gap between us and the teams behind us. We’re really pushing but if it’s not happening, we have to keep believing on what we are doing and make sure that we win our games,” the former Bush Bucks defender said, adding that the travelling as PSL games come thick and fast is starting to take its toll on the players.
“You can see that our passing game is really not up to the standard that we have come to be known for.
“I think the travelling has been one of the reasons that the players are starting to show fatigue.”
Sambu’s game plan ‘pays off’
But he was happy with the point they managed against the table-topping Clever Boys. Sambu and fellow assistant coach Zipho Dlangalala were in charge of the Eastern Cape outfit for the first time this season as head coach Dan “Dance” Malesela is still recovering in an undisclosed Port Elizabeth hospital with a suspected heart condition.
In a surprising move, the two assistant coaches broke up the midfield combination of captain Thamsanqa Sangweni, Buyani Sali and Sandile Zuke, which has dominated and dictated the pace for the Chilli Boys this season.
They opted to go with Xolani Mdaki in the middle of the park with Zuke dropped to the bench.
The move had many doubting the strategy as Zuke has been an integral part of the team.
So what was the thinking behind this?
“First of all I think we will take a point from Wits. You know Wits is a very difficult team to play but we tried to play our normal game in terms of passing, but we didn’t create a lot of scoring opportunities.
“The thinking was, we wanted to play more forward passes. He was not doing that bad in terms of giving us that balance in terms of defensive play, but we wanted to play more of penetrating passes going forward – that was the only reason behind the change,” Sambu told journalists after the game.
However, that did not turn out as planned as Chippa played one of their most dull games this season.
They failed to penetrate Wits with striker Lerato Manzini only getting his first touch in the 38th minute.
Things changed when Zuke was introduced in place of left-back Paseka Mako. Mdaki dropped back into central defence to make way for Zuke in the middle of the park, while Diamond Thopola was moved to left-back.
The tactical move saw Chippa playing more enterprising football with Zuke spraying a defence-splitting pass to Manzini.
Sambu had no regret with going for Mdaki.
“In football you have to make decisions, there’s no time . Had it worked, we would have been celebrating. But I think it’s good for us to have those players to give us that balance when we have to make those necessary changes,” he said.
Sambu admitted that he still has a lot to learn from Malesela. While Chippa maintained their unbeaten record in Mdantsane, this was the team’s fifth draw this year.
This has resulted in the Chilli Boys being in position 11. They will have to start turning the draws into wins if they are to finish in the top eight, as the team is targeting.
“We are aware of the situation because there’s not too much gap between us and the teams behind us. We’re really pushing but if it’s not happening, we have to keep believing on what we are doing and make sure that we win our games,” the former Bush Bucks defender said, adding that the travelling as PSL games come thick and fast is starting to take its toll on the players.
“You can see that our passing game is really not up to the standard that we have come to be known for.
“I think the travelling has been one of the reasons that the players are starting to show fatigue.”
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