Chippa United could not have wished for a better omen than taking their league clash against Bloemfontein Celtic to Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane next week Friday.
With the Port Elizabeth-based outfit looking for their first win since revamping their technical team by appointing Joel Masutha as coach assisted by Tshepo Motsoeneng, all indications point to them finally getting maximum points against Celtic.
Motsoeneng holds the biggest influence to sway the outcome to their favour as he will return to Sisa Dukashe stadium which was his stomping ground when he was coaching ABC Motsepe League side Tornado.
Not only does Motsoeneng know the terrain but he has never lost a game played at the stadium while at Tornado.
“In 56 games I never lost at Sisa Dukashe stadium while coaching Tornado,” he revealed.
“So as you can see all indicators point to us winning against Celtic.”
Celtic are currently embroiled in boardroom challenges with the owners having put the club up for sale, leaving players and technical team disorientated.
Despite that uncertain future, coach Steve Komphela has been able to whip the players into shape by playing impressive football.
Motsoeneng is aware of Celtic’s fighting spirit but adds that the Chilli Boyd are also desperate for a win under the tutelage of the new technical team.
In three games, Chippa have yet to win a game with two draws and a defeat to log leaders Wits in their last game before the Christmas break.
The 2-0 defeat by Wits followed draws to Cape Town City away and the share of the spoils against Polokwane City at home at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium.
While refusing to attribute the lost points against City to the poor crowd they attracted at NMB stadium, Motsoeneng said Sisa Stadium always provides the team with a “12th man”.
“There is no doubt that playing at Sisa is an added advantage for us because we attract a capacity crowd there. We are hopeful that it will be the case again against Celtic.”
Chippa are desperate to turn the corner by hitting a winning trail and that was evidenced by the quick return of the players from the Christmas break.
After the loss to Wits a fortnight ago, Chippa ordered the players to report to training on Thursday to prepare for the tough task ahead.
After Celtic they will have to prepare for Orlando Pirates. From this encounter they aim to get at least a point.
“We cannot relax because for far the dice is against us so we need to turn things around. We’re hopeful that the Christmas break will signal a change of fortunes for us.”
He admitted however that the team had yet to play according to the new technical team coaching methods due to the short period it has had to adjust owing to disruption by international breaks.
“So far we are instilling physical fitness on the players while we are yet to implement our coaching methods.”
Chippa have not played at Sisa since October 27 when they lost to Mamelodi Sundowns in a league match...