Port Elizabeth - Chippa United, without a win in eight games, are determined to get back on track when they host Kaizer Chiefs for an Absa Premiership encounter at Nelson Mandela Bay on Saturday with kick-off at 6pm.
The Chilli Boys started the season in splendid fashion with their intricate passing, but have gone off the boil in the last month or so, even losing two out of five games at home.
Head Coach Daniel 'Dance' Malesela has rued missed chances in recent weeks which have seen the side sliding down the league log table, and it was again the case against Maritzburg United.
But Malesela has expressed confidence in his charges ahead of the visit by Chiefs.
“Our focus has now shifted focus entirely Chiefs. We have one day to prepare for the game on Saturday, and will make the most of it. “We have forced changes due to injuries, so we have to get the balance right on Saturday. We take lessons from each and every game we play, and it was not different against Maritzburg United on Tuesday where we came back with a valuable point.”
Malesela said his side need to start taking their chances to win games.
“We had the same story on Tuesday and I am hoping, in fact I believe, that this story will end on Saturday, where we concede one and then miss 10 chances,” he said.
Teams have deployed defensive tactics to counter Chippa United's style of play, but Malesela said he is not expecting the visitors to resort to the same tactics.
“The challenge sometimes is that we always look at a team and their style of play but when we play them it becomes a different thing. “This makes it difficult to plan according to the way the opposition plays, but our focus is on improving our play and breaking down solid defense.
“I do not think Chiefs will do that (employ ultra defensive tactics) on Saturday though. They are a team that always look to dominate and attack. “I think they will come here and play and open, it will be an open game. They are not coming here for a draw. They want maximum points, as do we. “The expression on the player's faces after the Maritzburg game was that we need to start scoring goals. Come Saturday, I think we will,” added Malesela with confidence.
James Okwuosa added, “We have been trying to improve on each and every game we play. The spirit in the group remains high. The league is a marathon. We have time to put things right.”
African News Agency (ANA)