Kaizer Chiefs coach Molefi Ntseki has hit back at Chippa United coach Morgan Mammila, who said the Soweto giants were lucky to come away with a draw on Sunday.
Ntseki, in his first foray as Chiefs head coach, said Mammila probably doesn’t see game the way he sees it, as the two sides played to a goalless draw at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.
Chippa grit out an organised performance to frustrate Chiefs, with Mammila stating they might be a glamorous club due to the following in the stands and history but when it comes to on the field of play it is 11 vs 11 and there is no difference, and they can match them.
“Maybe he understands the game differently,” replied Ntseki after the game.
“It was a game of two teams competing to win the game and both teams created chances, both teams were under pressure, under siege in some certain stages of the game.
“I’m not going to speak on behalf of the other coach or the other team, but I think our team did very well defensively. Like I said offensively, we can do better in converting the chances and creating more chances.”
It was an outstanding rearguard defending as Chippa’s defence led by skipper Roscoe Pietersen stood firm to thwart everything away, and Goodman Mosele was knitting things nicely and it was not surprising when he scooped the Man of the Match award.
One thing Ntseki agreed on was that his side lacked the cutting edge to trouble the Chilli Boys, who beat Chiefs at the very same venue last year when Mammila was in charge.
“We did very well in certain moments of the game, especially when we were making midfield rotation in creating those pockets for us to play forward or to make those forward runs,” admitted Ntseki.
“But I think we lacked more penetration, especially in the last third and we did not take much of the shots at goal to call for a keeper or the defenders to make saves.
“I think in terms of possession, we had a fairly good possession of the game but possession doesn’t win you games. What was missing was us getting into the last third and threatening the goals.”
Chiefs next visit Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday (15:00), with the Tshwane giants having dusted off themselves by beating Sekhukhune United on Friday.
It will be a tough ask as Amakhosi have not defeated Sundowns away since April 2021, with Sundowns having done the double over them last season for the first time in the PSL era.
