adminPORT ELIZABETH. – Trigger-happy Chippa United chairman Siviwe ‘Chippa’ Mpengesi has singled out the one coach he regrets ever firing.
More than 30 coaches have gone around the revolving door at the Eastern Cape outfit.
Daine Klate became the latest casualty barely two months after replacing Kurt Lentjies during the pre-season.
Norman Mapeza is the only local coach who has had a dance with the world’s most chaotic football club.
While Chippa’s boss insists he will never keep a coach leading them “to destruction”, he admits he may have erred with one coach.
“Once I see that the coach is not taking us in the right direction, he is taking us in the direction of destruction, I quickly act.
“I’m not saying I’m proud of firing coaches; I’m not proud. How I wish I had a coach who is strong mentally and who believes that Chippa United is also one of the PSL teams and can do well and win cups and the league,” he told Power Sport Extra host Mmasekepe Matsebane.
When Matsebane pressed him on whether he has ever regretted firing a coach, he opened up.
“There’s only one coach [I regret firing], it’s coach Manqoba [Mngqithi]. I was still young and had just gotten promoted.
“That year 2012, I thought this thing is easy [the PSL], so I made those pronouncements and said we are going to win the league.
“Roger [Sikhakhane] got sick ahead of the beginning of the season, and then Manqoba had just parted ways with AmaZulu. We brought him in.
“In the first game against Mamelodi Sundowns, we lost 1-0, and losing was foreign to us. We lost the second game against Free State Stars.
“I thought no, no no… when Manqoba lost the second game, I fired him. That’s the only coach I regret firing.
“We came to be friends later. That’s a man I feel I humiliated. I was used to winning. I was young.
“I felt like it was a harsh decision against him. I regret it. Of course, later we became friends, and we talk.
“I apologised, and guess what, he’s one of the best coaches right now, and I’m proud of him,” explained the Chippa supremo. – FARPost
Online Reporter