Chippa target top three spot with CT City win

Chippa United will tussle it out with Cape Town City in the Betway Premiership encounter at the Buffalo City Stadium in East London on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 5:45 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

The Chilli Boys are undefeated in their last two league matches having secured a 2-0 win over Magesi FC at home on 30 November and prior to that, they had drawn with SuperSport United.

Chippa are occupying the fifth spot in the Betway Premiership standings with 14 points from nine matches and a win over Cape Town City will see the Chilli Boys climb up to the third spot with third-placed Polokwane City set to face Marumo Gallants on Sunday.

Cape Town City, on the other hand, are winless in their last two league matches having succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Sekhukhune United away on 7 December and it was their second defeat in a row.

The Citizens find themselves placed 13th in the Betway Premiership standings with eight points from eight matches and a win over Chippa would see City move further away from the relegation zone as they are currently two points above the 15th spot.

TEAM NEWS

Chippa United have no suspension issues coming into this match, but Cape Town City will be without one of their assistant coaches, Lebogang Manyama who is suspended.

However, City will welcome back Prins Tjiueza after the Namibia international served his one-match suspension against Sekhukhune United.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Chippa United head coach Kwanele Kopo

“We knew that Magesi would come out guns blazing. When you're down 2-0 you have nothing to lose; you have to throw everything at the game,” Kopo said.

“Where we come from the most important thing was to come back with a win; that is what we got today. Credit to the players' excellent approach of application in the first half, and good execution.

"We could have scored more goals and Stanley (Nwabali) kept us in the game.”

Cape Town City head coach Eric Tinkler

“I don't look at the results, I look at the performance. We have been excellent. We just need better luck ... fortune is not going our way at the moment,'' Tinkler said.

“I think we were by far the better team on the day... both first and second half. But obviously the last 20 [minutes] or so after you concede a goal from a penalty, you chase the game, they are obviously going to get a chance,

"So you can't judge the game there. I judged the game prior to the penalty and up until then, I thought we were the best team in the park."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sinoxolo Kwayiba, Chippa United: The new Bafana Bafana international scored twice to propel the Chilli Boys to a victory over Magesi and he will be confident playing a key role once again in helping his side secure the maximum points.

Amadou Soukouna, Cape Town City: The French striker recently netted his first league goal for the Citizens to take his tally to two goals this season and he could be the player to inspire the Western Cape side to a win in the Eastern Cape.