Hunt remains upbeat after Stellies setback

Chippa United coach Gavin Hunt has applauded his team’s determination, despite losing 2-1 against Stellenbosch FC on Saturday.

This was the Chilli Boys’ third consecutive setback in the DStv Premiership, after the 3-1 loss against Orlando Pirates and the 1-0 defeat to rookies Royal AM.

Though the 57-year-old Hunt admitted they needed to do better, the former Kaizer Chiefs mentor believed the game was theirs for the taking at the weekend.

“A rough one to take again; even last week against Pirates we should have won and today we should’ve won,” Hunt said.

“We had more than enough chances and we scored our goal and we conceded two soft [goals]. 

“Great delivery today from the wide areas, credit to the players who battled all the way.

“We are battling with what we have.

“We lost but they showed determination which was important; there is a lot of naiveté which we work on, on a daily bases.

“There are a lot of players [still thinking they're playing] in the first division I guess. This is a big league.

Meanwhile, Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker was happy with his team’s consistency.

“I am proud of the players again for different reasons today.

“I thought we just showed good character, good fight; it became a physical type of battle.

“They kept coming at us playing off the front.

“There were a lot of set pieces where they were dangerous, whether it would be corners or throws or free kicks in and around the box.

“We had a lot to deal with again and I thought we came out really well.

“I am extremely proud of the efforts that they put in.

“Back-to-back wins here at the Danie Craven Stadium, back-to-back wins in the league.

“I think credit must go to the whole of the football club and the support staff, technical staff, management and the players for the continued work ethic that they have shown. It's starting to reap rewards,” Barker said.

Stellies took an early lead as they scored in the 10th minute with the Chilli Boys having failed to clear their lines after goalkeeper Ismail Watenga denied Judas Moseamedi from close range.

Stanley Dimgba then pounced on the loose ball and hit the back of the net from the rebound to hand Stellenbosch a 1-0 lead as the Nigerian centre forward netted his first goal of the current campaign. 

The hosts took their foot off the pedal and allowed the Chilli Boys to control the match. Parity was restored in the 24th minute when Sammy Seabi scored with a header to make it 1-1.

However, Seabi turned from hero to villain for the visitors as the lanky midfielder netted an own goal from Ibraheem Jabaar’s cross to make it 2-1 to Stellenbosch, seven minutes before halftime.

The player on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns nearly made amends when his header hit the upright at the other end with keeper Lee Langeveldt beaten; the score was 2-1 to Stellenbosch at the interval. 

The Chilli Boys continued to push for the equalising goal after the restart with Seabi working hard in the middle of the park, playing some forward passes for his attack-minded teammates.

Veluyeke Zulu had an opportunity to snatch a late equalising goal for the visitors in the closing stages of the game but his effort was brilliantly finger-tipped over the crossbar by Langeveldt. — Additional reporting by SuperSport.com