Chippa Aim For A Top 8 Finish
Chippa United coach Thabo September says they are ambitiously targeting a top eight finish in the Betway Premiership despite a poor run of form with the curtains slowly closing on the 2024/25 campaign.
The Chilli Boys suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to title-chasing Orlando Pirates in Gqeberha on Wednesday to make it six defeats in their last 10 league outings, with two draws and two wins in the other four matches.
September’s troops are currently in ninth place on the log standings with 22 points accumulated – six behind eighth-placed Kaizer Chiefs, who have played a game more and have an inferior goal difference to United.
With the club having proved they are capable of securing a Top 8 spot after their exploits with a sixth-place berth in the 2015/16 season, the ex-SuperSport United midfield maestro is confident of repeating the feat as they are banking on their home games.
“Yes [we want to finish in the top 8], we are planning on the games that we still have to play, especially at home. We still have AmaZulu, Polokwane, Sundowns and Chiefs, so we aim on those games that we are playing at home to do our best,” said September.
While he is actively looking to capitalize on the advantage of their 12th man, September is also impressed by his team’s display on the road, emphasizing the importance of collecting every single point they can in their top eight charge.
“And of course, we’ve changed our fortunes in terms of traveling as well, we are not travelling so bad now, we come away with a point or three points away and that’s how you get into the top eight [by] trying to pick up a point there or get three points there,” added the 42-year-old mentor.
The Gqeberha-based outfit was scheduled to take on financially troubled Royal AM on Tuesday, but with the KZN side’s fixtures suspended indefinitely by the PSL, the match won’t go through, which will give the Chilli Boys ample time to prepare for their next test.
“We will give them a little bit of a rest because we are going to play after 10 days and then after that we’ll work them mentally and physically for what’s coming. So, that’s the job we have to do and make a big jump and show them where we want to be and how to get there,” September continued.
United will host continental football aspirants Polokwane City on Saturday, 15 March when they return to league action. The Chippa Mpengesi-owned club will be determined to avoid defeat as they lost the first meeting earlier last month, falling to Ndamulelo Maphangule’s solitary goal.
