Chippa United could add to Swallows’ woes

Etiosa Ighodaro of Chippa United challenged by Strydom Wambi of Swallows FC during the DStv Premiership 2022/23 match between Swallows and Chippa United at the Dobsonville Stadium, Soweto on the 06 January 2023 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Chippa United are back in action this weekend following a break the previous week. The DStv Premiership encounter between Morgan Mammila’s team and the struggling Swallows will take place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Sunday. Three points are on the line for both teams which they desperately need. Both sides are coming off losses in recent DStv Premiership games. Last week, Swallows suffered a 2-0 loss to Cape Town City.

Previously, Richards Bay FC defeated the Dube Birds 1-0. Chippa United lost to Stellenbosch FC 2-1 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. As the DStv Premiership games come to a close, Chippa needs all three points if they want to avoid being relegated.

Chippa players remain motivated after defeating Polokwane City in the Nedbank Cup last week, despite their coach’s disappointment at being defeated by Stellenbosch in a game they were controlling. He did, however, express optimism for improvement in the upcoming matches.

“To be honest, we gave away the game. How can you keep control of the game while making mistakes as the game nears its conclusion? We must learn from what happened today in order to do better in future games,” Mammila stated this following his team’s defeat by Stellenbosch FC.

Due to the risk facing his team, Swallows coach Ernst Middendorp will travel to Gqeberha on high alert. A victory would allow his team to take a break. With both teams are near the bottom of the standings, the game will be challenging.

DStv Premiership fixtures:

Friday: SuperSport United vs Maritzburg United, 19:30.

Saturday: Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates, 15:30; Sekhukhune United vs Cape Town City, 17:30; Richards Bay vs Stellenbosch, 17:30; AmaZulu vs Royal Am, 20:00.

Sunday: Chippa United vs Swallows, 15:30.