Coach Eymael finds relief as Chippa United end winless run

Chippa United coach Luc Eymael could finally breathe a little easier after his side clinched their first win of the new Betway Premiership season. 

Chippa finally broke their duck on Tuesday night with a 2-1 win over Orbit College at Buffalo City Stadium in East London. Xolani Sithole’s first-half strike and Justice Figareido’s second-half goal sealed the result in a quiet match, handing the Eastern Cape side their first three points of the campaign.

The Belgian mentor said the result showed the value of the hard work put in during the FIFA break and hoped it would give his players the confidence to push higher up the table.

Eymael admitted the performance was not perfect, noting that his side still conceded and should have scored more goals. But he stressed that the three points were vital, not only to lift the team off the bottom reaches of the log but also to prove to his players that their efforts were starting to pay off. 

Build on momentum

Looking ahead to Saturday’s clash away to Polokwane City, he said it was crucial to build on the momentum and return home with maximum points.

The coach added that the victory was important because he had asked the squad to give everything, and he hoped the result would carry into the coming fixtures.

The win lifted the team to 14th on the log, with four points collected from six games. For players under pressure, it was a much-needed confidence boost and a reminder of what they can achieve when chances are taken.

Rocky start for the club

The victory also brought some stability after a turbulent start to the season. Chippa went into the game with Eymael only in his second outing as coach, following the departures of Musa Nyatama, who was dismissed after one game in charge, and Sinethemba Badela, who lasted only two matches.

That turmoil at management level has gone hand in hand with the team’s poor run of results. But Tuesday’s win provided a glimmer of optimism that the side may yet find its rhythm under Eymael’s leadership.