Chippa United assistant coach Morgan Mammila says he is not ready to take over as the club head coach if the chairman Siviwe Mpengesi ask him to step up.
Mammila was on the bench when Chippa somewhat surprisingly beat AmaZulu 2-1 at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The win came two days later after the club parted ways with Daine Klate, who lost his post on Thursday after the loss to Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday.
All eyes were on Saturday’s game in Durban who will be in the dugout for the club, with Mammila being named as assistant while was named Siyabulela Gwambi as the head coach.
However, Mammila was the one calling the shots, while Gwambi was completely rooted to the bench. When Chippa scored the second goal through Azola Metrose’s acute angle strike, Mammila could not hide his emotions, jumping for joy as the club got their second league win of the season.
“No, no, no. Let’s be honest, I’m not yet ready to coach a professional team,” said Mammila when asked by the iDiski Times after the game in Durban.
“It is just now they have asked me to help with my little expertise, so I’m helping. If the [new] coach comes on Monday or Tuesday, I’ll support him. For me this win I dedicate to Mr Mpengesi for trusting me with this multimillion status.”
The former Baroka FC CEO left the club during the off season to join All Stars in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, but returned to Chippa earlier in the week.
He said the reason why it worked for his side to beat AmaZulu was because he knows these players.
“I was with them for the pre-season and I only left Chippa I think two months ago, if I’m not mistaken,” he explained.
“It is still the same players, same mentality. One thing for sure I know how to work. I’m a team man, I respect the players and I know how to draw a line between the management and the players.
“There’s no team where you’ll find me that I have a problem with.”
Upgrade to ultra-fast home 5G premium & get a second premium plan free from rain.co.za.
Seeing Mammila, who has claimed to have obtained CAF D license, on the bench has drawn negativity about the state of coaching in the PSL.
Last season Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rulani Mokwena said the coaching industry was on life support, though he didn’t directly say this to Mammila who surprised many to be on the bench when Kurt Lentjies was in charge. Mammila says he doesn’t care about negativity.
“If they don’t talk about you, then you are nothing. If you are doing something right, they will talk about you,” he said.
The win saw Chippa move to 13rh on the Dstv Premiership table with eight points after eight matches.
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).
Chippa Make Lentjies Decision
