Chippa United coach Clinton Larsen was still upbeat about his side despite playing to a draw with his former employers Golden Arrows at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
The match stretched Chippa’s unbeaten run under Larsen to six matches.
However, Arrows should be more relieved with the result than Chippa who could have eased their relegation worries had they won the match.
But Larsen preferred to look at the positive insisting that his team was continuing to improve since he took charge.
Larsen commended his players for their character against Arrows.
“I am very proud of the team,” he said. “Where we were two months ago and where we are now is a massive improvement.
“Players are playing with more confidence. There's just one way from here and that's up. I think they are enjoying their football as well.”
Chippa found themselves trailing when the game was only 22 minutes old after Knox Mutizwa netted.
The hosts fought back but could not get the equaliser going to the break when they trailed the visitors. It wasn’t until the 70th minute that they finally broke the deadlock when Lerato Manzini capitalised on a defence lapse to even matters.
In praising the players Larsen singled out Thabo Rakhale who is gradually getting back to form.
“I think Thabo Rakhale is getting back to the Rakhale we know who set the scene alight,” Larsen said, while also commending the in-form Kurt Lentjies.
Larsen said his troops failed to go hard at Arrows during the first half. They also had not closed their spaces as planned.
“Hence, their build-ups were a little bit easy and it was easy to come out into our half. The goal we conceded was comical, it was very soft but these things happen in a game.
“But at least we showed the mental strength to come back from that mistake,” he said.
“I think they made a mistake in sitting back after scoring and allowed us into the game.
“In the second half the boys were outstanding. We looked like we were going to score. It was just a matter of time and even when we got the equaliser, we could have got a winner.”
Chippa play SuperSport United at the Sisa Dukashe stadium in Mdantsane this coming Sunday...