Kopo reveals Chippa concerns ahead of Swallows and Pirates clashes
Chippa United coach Kwanele Kopo has revealed concerns for his side ahead of the two crucial matches against Moroka Swallows and Orlando Pirates.
The Chilli Boys will welcome the Dube Birds to Buffalo City Municipality Stadium in their next DStv Premiership fixture on Wednesday, 1 May, at 3:00 pm.
They then host Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup semi-final on Saturday, 4 May, at 3:00 pm at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Chippa lost their last league outing 2-1 at the hands of AmaZulu FC at the Moses Mabhida Stadium this past Sunday.
Speaking after the match, Kopo touched on the blows they suffered with about seven regular players nursing injuries. This includes the likes of Goodman Mosele, Baraka Majogoro, Craig Martin, and Kamohelo Mahlatsi, among others.
He says they’re still uncertain whether they will be ready for both upcoming matches.
ABOUT SEVEN REGULAR PLAYERS INJURED AT CHIPPA UNITED
“These injuries are a concern for the semi-final [against Orlando Pirates], but they’re a concern for the Swallows game on Wednesday,” said Kwanele Kopo.
“We lost Malebogo Modise after the TS Galaxy game, we’ve got Kamohelo Mahlatsi out, today we lose Goodman Mosele, we lose Craig Martin. We’ve got yellow cards also, Justice Chabalala got his fourth yellow card today. So, he’s suspended for the next game.
“So, it’s a difficult period for us.
“But our focus needs to be on Swallows, we need to get over the hurdle of Swallows and then the players that are available for Pirates, we have to make a plan, we have to devise a plan with those players, we have to devise tactics to be able to win the game.
“It concerns us a lot…oh we also lost Majorogo Baraga in central midfield who’s consistently played with Goodman Mosele.
“So, the injuries concern us for the Swallows game, the injuries concern us for the Pirates game also. I think maybe the Swallows game gives us an opportunity to see who else could be available going into the Pirates game.
“But I think the priority for the Swallows game is to collect points.”
The former Pretoria Callies mentor is confident they have what it takes to get the better of the on-form Soweto giants on Saturday.
KWANELE KOPO BELIEVES THEY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPETE WITH PIRATES
“We would like to get into the final of the Nedbank Cup, and you have to beat Pirates to do it,” he added.
“So, tactically, can we do it? Yes, I believe so. Do we have the players that are capable of going out there and competing against Pirates? Yes, I believe so.
“Maybe we’re lacking a little bit in terms of time because there’s a game in between. So, we need to manage the squad properly.
“It’s a very difficult game to prepare for because our squad is not very big. And when you have six, seven injuries to starting players, it’s gonna be very difficult.
“I think as I sit here at the moment, to be honest, I don’t have the right answers to say, ‘this is what we’re going to do against Pirates’.
“So, we need to go back and reflect, but it would be an important milestone for Chippa United to reach the Nedbank Cup final to celebrate 10 years in the Eastern Cape.”
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