Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane is refusing to give up on their bid to finish second in the DStv Premiership as they look to get back to winning ways against Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
The Glamour Boys saw their top-two challenge fade further away with a 1-0 defeat to Sekhukhune United in Polokwane last Sunday, which came on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to Marumo Gallants on 8 April.
Amakhosi had put themselves in the frame for Caf Champions League football after winning four matches on the spin prior to that but they now trail Orlando Pirates (3rd) and SuperSport United (2nd) by five and six points respectively in fourth place with four games left to play.
However, Zwane believes there is still hope for Chiefs as the pressure is on for teams at both ends of the table as they jostle to finish in the top eight or avoid relegation, meaning the Buccaneers and Matsatsantsa could still drop points.
"I'm one person who doesn't give up too easily. This is football, and anything can happen at any given time," he said. "We dropped points and, yes, I'm disappointed and I know we could have done better (against Sekhukhune).
"It's one of those things where you never know what's going to happen, because everyone's fighting to be in the top eight or avoid relegation, and we're also fighting to be in a better position. There are no easy games at this time of the season."
The Chilli Boys have been sucked into the relegation mire after a 3-1 loss to Bahlabane Ba Ntwa in Polokwane on 12 April extended their winless streak to seven matches.
The managerial merry-go-round at the club continued when Lehlohonolo Seema was brought in to replace Siyabulela Gwambi, who had only taken over the reins from Kurt Lentjies last month but was shown the door after back-to-back defeats against Pirates and Gallants.
Seema is Chippa's fifth appointment of the season after Daine Klate, Morgan Mammila, Lentjies and Gwambi all came and went.
Chilli Boys defender Matome Mathiane revealed that Seema has instilled a new belief in the squad with his calm approach to their current plight, with the team two points adrift of Swallows in 15th place.
"Coach Seema has not changed anything as far as how we train is concerned, but we feel that new energy," Mathiane said. "Everyone is excited and raring to go. He's been telling us that we can do it and we also believe that we can do it.
"I think it will also help that he was here before. He knows most of the players here. He's calm about the situation we are in and we are also buying into his calmness because he knows what he's doing."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chippa United
Etiosa Ighodaro: Chippa would already be dead and buried if it wasn't for the 21-year-old Nigerian striker, who has enjoyed an impressive debut season in the DStv Premiership. Ighodaro opened the scoring against Gallants last time out with a powerful header to take his tally for the campaign to nine goals from 21 appearances.
Ronald Pfumbidzai: The 28-year-old Zimbabwean left-back played in a more advanced role against Bahlabane Ba Ntwa after catching the eye with his surging runs down the left flank in recent games. Pfumbidzai scored a fine goal against SuperSport on 1 April following one such foray upfield to notch his fourth of the season.
Kaizer Chiefs
Dillan Solomons: The 24-year-old right-back has gone on to establish himself in the first team following his arrival from Swallows in the off-season. Solomons recently missed four games with a shoulder injury but made his fourth consecutive start against Sekhukhune to register his 17th appearance of the campaign.
Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana: Chiefs have felt the absence of the 25-year-old Burundian striker, who scored six goals in his first six outings before a thigh injury hampered his progress. Bimenyimana has been in and out of the team since the turn of the year and made his first appearance in four games off the bench against Babina Noko.