Klate has no topflight experience, but was a superb player with a glittering career and has impressed as a tactician in the DStv Diski Challenge.
Owner Siviwe ‘Chippa’ Mpengesi has promised him the first 10 games of the season to get things right before they will assess whether the relationship is working, and while Klate will know history is against him, he will be hopeful of making his mark.
He has not been helped to a degree by the fact that the club has had a virtual squad overhaul, bringing in 18 new players who need to bed down and find the right combinations.
SuperSport.com takes a look at Chippa’s first 10 games of the campaign, two of which have already been played.
SUPERSPORT UNITED VS CHIPPA UNITED
August 7, 2022Lucas Moripe Stadium
A clash that pitted student against master as Klate met mentor Gavin Hunt, who has recently rejoined SuperSport where the pair worked together in the past, to go with a spell at BidVest Wits. Klate got a dream start with a goal from Zimbabwean defender Ronald Pfumbidzai, but they could not hold on for the win as Bradley Grobler equalised for the home side. Still, a solid point away from home against a good team will have been pleasing.Score: 1-1
CHIPPA UNITED VS ROYAL AM
August 10, 2022
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Straight back down to earth for Klate as his side were outplayed by a vastly superior Royal AM. Chippa only won one of their 15 home league games in 2021-22 and that poor trend continued in this one as they trailed 2-0 at halftime and never looked like winning the contest in truth. The lone goal for Chippa came after 75 minutes through youngster Diego Appollis. It will be a deflating result for all at the club.
Score: 1-3
ORLANDO PIRATES VS CHIPPA UNITED
August 14, 2022
Orlando Stadium
Klate faces a tough road trip to another of his former sides as Chippa travel to Orlando Pirates, who have hardly set the world alight themselves so far this season but will be a tough opponent to break down. You wonder where Chippa are going to get the guile to break through what is an organised and well-drilled Pirates side. This fixture finished 0-0 last season, which is not out of the realms of possibility again, but Pirates won the previous 12 games in a row before that dating back to 2016.
Prediction: 1-0
CHIPPA UNITED VS MARUMO GALLANTS
August 17, 2022
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
This fixture will be an acid test for Klate as a game his side simply have to win, despite their dismal home form. When making their own calculations for this season, Chippa will have put a ‘W’ next to this game and expect the three points, meaning it perhaps provides more pressure than the Pirates encounter. It is a clash where Chippa will have to ‘go for it’ and while Gallants will be no pushovers, will expect three points. They should get that, though Gallants won this tie 3-2 last season.
Prediction: 2-0
MARITZBURG UNITED VS CHIPPA UNITED
August 20, 2022
Harry Gwala Stadium
A game under lights in Pietermaritzburg is never easy and while Maritzburg have had a difficult start to the campaign, they will eb the ones who will be targeting this game as a must win. They have been their own worst enemies so far this campaign with sloppy errors in defence, but you would expect that to improve as they games come and they get used to playing together. Chippa won 2-0 on their last visit to Maritzburg in December, but the occasion before that lost 5-1, so it is a mixed venue for them. Neither side looks like they have a bag of goals in them.
Prediction: 1-1 CHIPPA UNITED VS TS GALAXY
August 24, 2022
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
This will be Chippa’s sixth game in 17 days as the matches come thick and fast at the start of the season, which will likely mean plenty of rotation of player for Klate as he tries to keep the squad fresh. That fatigue can also impact performance on both sides and given that Galaxy are one of the best organised teams in the league, will be hugely difficult for Chippa to break down. This one has 0-0 written all over it, though galaxy did the ‘double’ over Chippa last season, including a vital 1-0 win in Gqeberha in May.
Prediction: 0-0
LAMONTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS VS CHIPPA UNITED
September 3, 2022
Princess Magogo Stadium
Golden Arrows have made a poor start to the season and you get the feeling it could be a campaign of toil for them having let go some of their better players and not really replaced them … yet. This could be an opportunity for Chippa to get some away points at a venue where they won 2-1 last season and have two wins and two draws from eight previous visits. It is moments like these were picking up points on offer will be vital, because Chippa don’t have a squad that can surprise the better teams in the league.
Prediction: 1-2
AMAZULU VS CHIPPA UNITED
September 10, 2022
Moses Mabhida Stadium
A difficult away game in Durban again for Chippa against an Usuthu side that does not give much away and are set up by their coach Brandon Truter to be difficult to beat, rather than play expansive, attacking football. These are the games that Chippa will find hard because they need to then rely on a mistake from the opposition or a moment of luck given their own lack of attacking options. This one will probably end in disappointment, even if they have an excellent record away at AmaZulu. Chippa have won five and drawn one of their seven previous visits, though their last victory was in 2019.
Prediction: 1-0
CHIPPA UNITED VS MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
October 4, 2022
Sisa Dukashe Stadium
Chippa have traditionally gone OK at home against Sundowns with draws the dominant feature – eight in the previous 13 meetings with three wins for Sundowns and two for the home side. They will need to find that fighting spirit and certainly should be up for the challenge, but the quality of Sundowns should win the day in the end. Especially if their shock early season loss to TS Galaxy has made them a little wary of minnow opponents.
Prediction: 0-2
CAPE TOWN CITY VS CHIPPA UNITED
October 9, 2022
Cape Town Stadium
City have made a stuttering start to the new campaign but they will get better and if last season is anything to go by, will be a formidable opponent in Cape Town. These two sides were once Mother City rivals before Chippa made the switch to Nelson Mandela Bay, and Chippa have just a single victory in their previous 10 away clashes against Eric Tinkler’s side. That came in 2019. That being said, clashes have been tight, with no team winning by more than a single goal in the last seven meetings. City should just have too much quality for their opponents.
Prediction: 2-0