On current season progress
We have boxes ticked and lessons learned. We set out objectives when the season started and we've achieved some of those objectives, like keeping more clean sheets than last season. We achieved that, but now we need to work to set a new record for seasons to come. The main objective was to make the Top Eight this season. It's still on the cards and remains a target. In our first 14 games of the season, we picked up 18 points, during that time losing four out of 14 – we felt we were moving into the right direction. Unfortunately, we never managed to pick up any points from our last two games before the break, hence we find ourselves in a position on the table we are not happy with. For the objectives that we haven't managed to achieve, it came with its lessons and we've learned and taken those lessons on board. Our backroom staff has been so influential with the analysing of our performances and where we are compared to where we want to be as a team. It's an ongoing process of moving towards a successful season for us and that is to be in the Top Eight at the end of the season. The good thing is we are moving forward as a club and as a team, forward into the right direction, and that's a great sign. It's for us as a team to continue to learn and work towards our main objective of Top Eight success.
On lessons from fighting relegation last season
Last season is something of the past, although it comes with its lessons. We've learned that we've got to have a better restart to the season after the December break. That was one of the biggest lessons from last season. At the December break, we were sitting in sixth position, and I guess we felt a sense of achievement, even though there was still half the season left to play. We let complacency settle into all the things we were doing and we ended up paying the price for that. It's never our aim to fight to survive in the last match of the season. It's a situation we don't want to find ourselves facing again. It's time we move away from the tag of being a relegation-bound team. We want to be associated with clubs that finish in the Top Eight regularly. It won't be easy, we're aware of that, but we've got the right mix to achieve a Top Eight finish. In the PSL, you need the right mix of a strong mentality and consistency to make the Top Eight. We let ourselves and the supporters down with how we performed when the season resumed by getting our first win after our 11th game since the restart of the previous season, hence we still needed one point from the last game of the season to survive. We took those hard lessons, learned from last season and we are working towards a better start after this December break. To be fighting to secure a Top Eight spot at the last game of the season will be something we will gladly accept rather than fighting to secure our PSL (topflight) status on the last day of the season. So, no complacency this time around. Strong winning mentality and a consistent run of winning games.
On how they plan to finish in a higher position
It might sound cliche but working hard. Working hard on all aspects of the game. The physical side, the mental side and the discipline side of the game. Working as a unit on the field. Defending together, attacking together. Working on being mindful of what the team objectives and the demands of the technical team are. Working on being devoted to achieving those objectives, knowing it won't be easy but sticking to the cause. Have the intention and resilience to work through the difficult moments that will arise during the remaining games of the season. And also, having the gratitude to be thankful that we have the opportunity to represent a whole province, the Eastern Cape, with pride and bringing the supporters some form of joy with our performances and with the football we'll be displaying. And by getting into the Top Eight. By remaining students of the game to make sure that as a team, we have a socio-effective chemistry that will help us tick the boxes we set for ourselves. The game comes with its dynamics and some games are more dynamic than others, it's just for us to stick together as a team in unity and do our best to finish in the Top Eight this season.
On Eva Nga returning to Chippa
Well, to the team it brings a certain feel of excitement and confidence. Remember, Eva left the club on a good footing by setting a new league goalscoring record at the club. So, to have him back brings us confidence that we'll be able to score more goals when the league resumes. It's an area of our game where we're lacking – converting the chances created into goals, and that's what he'll bring to our frontline. He brings a lot of dynamics in one package, which is great for us. He's strong, he's got a pace about him, he's got a very strong winning mentality, he's a nuisance to defences and he loves scoring goals. He also brings a big competitive nature, which will be great for the team during games. Also, the competitiveness will bring the best out of us on the training pitch. So, we are happy to have him back.
On September and Kopo joining the coaching staff
It's new and it's different. It's the first time we're working with co-coaches. They both come from a SuperSport United structure that we all know is about having a winning mentality, about having that drive to win. To not be defeated. To be stubborn when it comes to losing. And that can be a big plus for us at the club. Like I mentioned before, we want to get that tag off the club's name and bringing in two coaches that come from having a winning mentality at all costs, it can only be of a great benefit to the club. The response from the players has been great. Yes, their approach as a coaching unit is different from previous coaches, but at the same time it's a positive difference. Football is a result-driven industry whether you like it or not, and with the approach they are bringing, by working on the winning mentality, it will benefit the team. So, it's now up to us as players, as a team to add that mentality to the football identity we have shown this season.
The demands are more and higher, and at the end of the day if we want to achieve that Top Eight spot, it is what's needed. We need to put in more as a team and we will get more out of our performances. We had a good and long enough break to rejuvenate ourselves with some family time and time away from the game. Refresh our minds from the busy start of the season. Players and staff came back re-energised to tackle the tasks that lie ahead of us. Like I said previously, we are willing to jump on board with the co-coaches, to learn and adapt to their approach, and to stay students of the game by trying to improve ourselves as individuals and hence strengthening as a unit and as a team. The one aspect of the game we felt we were lacking was the mentality to win. We put in a lot of work towards the fitness and physical side of the game, which helps with mental strength, which will in return bring us the winning mentality. To have that edge over opponents when the game gets difficult. To be able to grind and work hard for winning results. The players have responded well to the new demands and new ways of the coaches. For that, I need to applaud my teammates because it isn't easy to make that kind of transformation. But as a team, we are adapting well and looking forward to the season resuming.
Roscoe Pietersen,
Chippa United defender
