Chippa United will play host to title hopefuls Cape Town City in a DStv Premiership match scheduled to be played at the Buffalo City Stadium on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 3:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
CURRENT FORM
The Chilli Boys wrapped up 2023 with a 2-0 loss to TS Galaxy away in a league game on 30 December. Therefore, Chippa are winless in their last two league games.
The Eastern Cape side are placed 13th in the DStv Premiership standings - five points above the relegation zone and a win over City will see the Chilli Boys move further away from the bottom two spots.
Meanwhile, City ended up the year 2023 with a 2-0 win over Cape Town Spurs away in the league on 31 December and they are unbeaten in their last two league matches.
The Citizens are placed second in the DStv Premiership standings - nine points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns who have two games in hand.
City are level on points with third-placed SuperSport United.
🌶️Next Match🌶️
— Chippa United FC (@ChippaUnitedFC) February 15, 2024
🆚 Cape Town City Fc
🏟️ Buffalo City Stadium ,
🗓️17 Feb 2024
⏰15:30
🎟️ TicketPro R60
📺DSTV Stream pic.twitter.com/iGMODhz9aT
TEAM NEWS
Chippa will be without their star goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as confirmed by the club's co-head coach Thabo September.
The Chilli Boys parted ways with Thabiso Lebitso and Augustine Mulenga last month before re-signing Bienvenu Eva Nga.
City, on the other hand, will be without Taahir Goedeman who is suspended, but the Citizens surprisingly parted ways with one of their longest-serving players, Thato Mokeke earlier this month after signing Prins Tjiueza, but the Namibian star is out injured.
WHAT WAS SAID?
Chippa United co-head coach Thabo September
"There are many talented players in the Eastern Cape. If you search well, you will find them. If you look at the team now, there are no Eastern Cape players," September said.
"This is a great opportunity to work with the academy, find talented players and turn Chippa into one of the biggest teams.
"Regarding the way of playing, we will check with [Kwanele] Kopo the type of players we will need before we make a decision."
Cape Town City head coach Eric Tinkler
“We knew Thato [Mokeke]'s injury was a long-term injury, but [we’re] now looking forward to the next season,” Tinkler said.
“He wasn’t really going to be in our plans so we gave him the option of staying till the end of the season or moving now and get paid in full. The chairman did end up paying him out.
"This means that he can start looking at other clubs, but he wants to stay with us for now to do a little bit of his rehab here.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bienvenu Eva Nga: The Cameroonian striker scored 10 goals in the league for Chippa during the 2021/22 season before joining Orlando Pirates and he will be hoping to continue from where he left off when he faces City.
Jaeden Rhodes: The 20-year-ol attacker has been impressive in front of goal this season having scored four goals in his last six league matches. Rhodes will be determined to continue his good form against a struggling Chippa side.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS
Season Result Scorers
2018/19 Chippa 0-2 CTC Roberts, Links
2019/20 CTC 0-1 Chippa Kwem
2019/20 Chippa 0-1 CTC Erasmus
2020/21 CTC 1-1 Chippa Mdantsane; Kwem
2020/21 Chippa 0-0 CTC
2021/22 CTC 1-0 Chippa Ajagun
2021/22 Chippa 0-0 City
2022/23 CTC 2-1 Chippa Mayo, Mkhize; Maarman
2022/23 Chippa 1-1 City Ighodaro; Chabalala (og)
2023/24 City 2-1 Chippa Kutumela, Mayo; Martin
LEAGUE RECORD (since 2016/17)
HOME
P W D L GF GA
Chippa 7 1 3 3 4 7
CTC 8 5 2 1 13 6
AWAY
P W D L GF GA
Chippa 8 1 2 5 6 13
CTC 7 3 3 1 7 4
TOTAL
P W D L GF GA
Chippa 15 2 5 8 10 20
CTC 15 8 5 2 20 10