Chippa United coach Masutha: Coaches do get fired, and at some stage, they do stay longer

DURBAN – Taking a Chippa United coaching job is similar to someone who enters into a marriage, knowing very well that divorce is imminent.

Obviously divorces are possible in any marriage, but Chippa chairman Siviwe Mpengesi is more like that type of partner who doesn’t give you a second chance.

If you fumble, you are out. Patience is not Mpengesi’s favourite word. Perseverance is his biggest enemy.

On Sunday, Chippa sacked Eric Tinkler and hired Joel Masutha.

Like all the coaches who have taken over the reins at Chippa, Masutha is confident of changing fortunes at the club and staying for a long time, but results will determine his fate at the Port Elizabeth-based team.

“I’m a young coach and I still want to prove myself. At some stage, coaches do get fired and at some stage, they do stay longer. It depends. I can’t be thinking about that now.

“All I want to see is the team moving up on the table. We don’t want calculators in the last two matches of the season. We don’t want to be in a situation where someone has to win in order for us to stay in the PSL,” Masutha said.

Tinkler only lasted four months at Chippa. His last game was on Friday against AmaZulu at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where they lost 1-0.

Chippa started the season with Dan Malesela, who was fired after three games.

“We have a good relationship with the chairman. I know the team environment. They needed someone who is familiar with the culture of the team.

“The chairman phoned me on Saturday and we talked, and then we concluded everything on Sunday.

“I will address the players later today (Monday) and have my first training session tomorrow (Tuesday). I’ve worked with some of the players at Chippa United. They know what I’m about.”

ANNOUNCEMENT: pic.twitter.com/LYqj01NJKc

— Chippa United FC (@ChippaUnitedFC) December 2, 2018

Masutha will be in charge of the team until the end of the season, but anything can happen at Chippa.

“We have quality players at Chippa United. I have to speed up the buy-in process to my style for the new players. It is not going to be easy. We won’t give up.

“If we give up, then we don’t deserve to be in the PSL. My mandate is to get the team to a better position on the log,” Masutha explained.

Chippa are second from the bottom on the league standings.