The annual coaching-merry-go round at Chippa United has taken another shocking twist after the club brought back Morgan Mammila for the 2023/24 season.
Mammila, who is a former police officer and had initially got involved in football as an administrator, made a surprise switch to coaching in September last year when he replaced Daine Klate.
Following a perfect start in the new role after leading the team to four successive victories at one stage, Mammila was relieved of his duties in February after a disappointing run of form by the side.
With the Chilli Boys having made further changes at the end of the season after parting ways with Lehlohonolo Seema who saved the club from relegation, Mammila has been brought back and will be assisted by Siyabulela Gwambi, while Kwanele Kopo is expected to complete the new-look technical team after leaving Motsepe Foundation Championship side Pretoria Callies.
Under Siviwe 'Chippa' Mpengesi's leadership, more than 40 coaching changes have been made at the Eastern Cape outfit in little over a decade, with the likes of veteran coaches Gavin Hunt, Ernst Middendorp and Manqoba Mngqithi, having been the employees of the club at some stage in their careers.
The Good
"I have heard about it (Mammila's Chippa return), and when it comes to Chippa there is nothing that should surprise you. With Chippa you can't be surprised, and they may have another six other coaches next season. But look, I don't want to say much on that because I don't know the man (Mammila) and I don't have anything against him. When I spoke about him the last time, I was just highlighting the issue of people coaching professional football clubs without proper coaching qualifications. My view on it is that it is killing our football. I wasn't necessarily referring to Mammila but everybody that was being allowed to coach without the qualifications," said Rautmann.
The Bad
"But he turned around and attacked me, which I found absolutely ridiculous. He made statements like he wanted to play for the top eight and that he wasn't someone fighting for relegation like me. He said he wasn't a relegation coach and I was surprised when he guided the team to the relegation zone. I guess he now knows that it is not easy to be in the top eight," the veteran coach said.
The Ugly
"With Chippa anything is possible and I don't care what happens and I don't know if he (Mammila) has got the coaching license now or not. But what I know is that it's not easy to get a coaching license, it's not like a drivers' licence which you can get in one day, it takes a while to obtain it. You must follow all the right procedures and processes until you can obtain the right qualification to enable you to coach anywhere in the world. I have got nothing against the guy because I have never interacted with him but I won't keep quiet when he attacked me and I can only wish him everything of the best and maybe he will get lucky again. Anyone can get lucky, and who knows, maybe he can get to win the league with Chippa. He said he is a top eight coach, so he can maybe go on and finish as number one this season with Chippa. That would be great for him to win the championship," he added.
"That's Typical Of People Who Like To Push Themselves"
"I know that he (Mammila) was at Swallows (recently) and I have previously worked for the club (old Moroka Swallows). There is a coach at Swallows (Musa Nyatama) and he (Mammila) mustn't claim what's being achieved there (top eight finish). He mustn't interfere with that has been done by the club. How can he claim that he achieved something with Swallows when there is a coach there who did a good job. He went to Swallows for a few games and it's not him who put the team where it is but the team's head coach and the players did. But that's typical of people who like to push themselves up by talking about themselves. He must prove himself properly at Chippa that he can go to the top eight," concluded Rautmann.
Can Mammila Turn Chilli Boys Into Consistent Top Eight Side?
