Chippa United and Polokwane City played to a goalless draw in their Absa Premiership match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday evening.
The visitors were left wondering what they must do to get a league win these days. The match contained few goal-scoring opportunities, but many tough tackles, with Chippa’s midfield general Rhulani Manzini stretchered off and replaced early in the second half.
Both goalkeepers, Zimbabwean George Chigova and Nigerian Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa), were in full control when called on to clean up matters in their penalty areas.
Polokwane needed to look as far back as December 14 for their last win, a 1-0 triumph over the very same Chippa, and since then, 10 Premiership outings have seen them return seven draws and three losses.
In the past fortnight, there has been turmoil in the Polokwane camp, with Belgian coach Luc Eymael having departed at great speed to take over at Bloemfontein Celtic, with his former assistant Bernard Modekwa now in charge of the Limpopo side.
Polokwane play a quality passing game, but it is getting the ball in the back of the opposition’s net that counts.
Modekwa will still feel that a top-eight league finish is quite possible, as they look to their next game against ever-improving Platinum Stars at home on April 19.
Things are not looking that rosy for the Chippa camp either, with the Eastern Cape side without a win in their last eight league games, and they now find themselves on 24 points from 23 games – just above the relegation zone.
Expect Chippa coach Dan Malesela to put in quite a bit of homework as his side prepare for a tough away trip to Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday.