Chippa United and Baroka FC will lock horns in a DStv Premiership match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Date: 20th April, 2021
Venue: Sisa Dukashe Stadium
Time: 3:00pm (SA Time)
Form Guide: Chippa United
Having reached their maiden Nedbank Cup final, 15th placed Chippa United may have increased their confidence level after they edged GladAfrica Championship’s Pretoria Callies 1-0 last weekend.
They face 11th placed Baroka, whom they trail by seven points as the battle for survival intensifies in the topflight. The Chilli Boys are winless in their last nine league games and they come up against their visitors who have drawn their last three league games too. It is a game between two out-of-form DStv Premiership sides.
Siyabulela Gwambi, the Chippa interim coach, is hopeful that the Eastern Cape-based side can take a cue from the Nedbank Cup success as they face Baroka on Tuesday.
“Knowing that we are not doing well in the league, we had to find a balance between the Nedbank Cup and the league,” Gwambi said ahead of the game.
“Reaching this final is a huge confidence booster in terms of also trying to do well to ensure survival in the league. I know our performance was not really good but we take the win.
“I am hopeful that the boys are motivated heading into our [league] game against Baroka on Tuesday [tomorrow]. We aim to use the energy we have in the Nedbank to also improve in the league.’’
Form Guide: Baroka
Baroka are also without a win in their last five league games, in their most recent outing they drew 1-1 with Kaizer Chiefs last week. By virtue of that result, Bakgaga Ba Mphahlele stay 11th on the log – two points behind eighth-placed TS Galaxy, and the former will be keen to boost their hopes of finishing in the top eight.
Baroka head coach Matsimela Thoka believes that they may need to change their approach to the game because of Chippa United’s contrasting style of play.
“One game at a time and playing a draw against Chiefs doesn’t mean another team we can do better, it’s football,” Thoka said.
“We need to read the opponent, we are playing against Chippa on the 20th [of April], so we need to analyze them very well because they are not playing like Kaizer Chiefs. So, we need to change the technicalities.”
A win for Chippa United could take them above TTM in 14th position, the same points as Maritzburg United while a win would take Baroka up to the 8th spot with eight games remaining in the season.