JOHANNESBURG - Dan Malesela will be in the Chippa United dugout when they take on Witbank Spurs in Wednesday night's Nedbank Cup last 32
encounter at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm), the club’s team manager Luthando Zibeko said.
This after “Dance” was admitted to hospital early last week, following speculation that he had suffered a heart attack.
But Zibeko, who had been in close contact with Malesela’s doctors, said the 51-year old’s health situation had been blown out of proportion, adding that Malesela had only suffered a back problem, due to the heavy travelling load the club have been subjected to lately.
“And that’s all there is to it, really. It was nothing but a back problem,” Zibeko said. “The doctors said he needed seven days off from work in
order to recover. And that’s what we did. We have given him the seven days off. He began working with the boys and I can assure the fans he’ll be at Wednesday's game.”
Malesela was not present when his side played out to a goalless draw against Bidvest Wits last week. That result added to their winless streak that has stretched to six games.
Malesela will want his side to break that winless run when they take on the NFD side tonight, as failure to do so will see them bow out of the knockout competition at this stage of the competition for a third season in a row.
“I believe we have made great improvement in the last two seasons,” Zibeko said. “Just recently, we reached the MTN8 semi-finals. This was not the case when we got promoted to the elite league a few seasons ago. We have made great strides. And this encounter will play a part in us finding our winning form again. But we are not taking Spurs lightly.”
Last season, they were knocked out in the last 32 by Limpopo outfit Baroka FC 3-2. And the season before that, they were beaten 4-2 on penalties by ABC Motsepe League side, Natal United FC, following a 0-0 draw.
“Witbank Spurs are a quality side. Coach Malesela knows them well.
“We cannot lose to a lower division side (in the last 32) again.”