Chippa United head coach Morgan Mammila has explained why he wanted one of the big three in the Carling Knockout last-16 as he targets the title for the Chilli Boys.
Mammila stated at the draw he was disappointed to draw against a Stellies team who aren’t doing well this season and would have preferred one of the league’s giants.
When asked to expand on his statement that got many talking about his confidence in the tournament he stated it was due to the desire to have a sold-out affair in Gqeberha.
“I said if it was possible I could get Sundowns while they are still limping after a loss of the final, after not getting Sundowns, my prayer was to get Chiefs or Pirates,” Mammila said at the launch of the Carling Knockout competition.
“Disappointed with the draw as I said, my wish was to play in a full stadium in PE, which is good for football, but nevertheless, I got Stellenbosch, a hardworking team, a team that can run the whole 90 minutes, a team that proved to everyone to be a good team.
“But we have proven also that we are a good team this season, we can play, we can match every team pound for pound and it’s not a joke, we can do it. So looking forward to a good game, although disappointed.
“For me – is to win the game against Stellenbosch so I can meet my wishlist.”
The former Baroka CEO believes his experience with Bakgaka when they pipped Pirates to the TKO is 2017 holds them in good stead and shows that it’s possible to dream.
“Yes we can win this – luckily I’m from a team [that has] tasted this competition while it was called Telkom, I won the competition with Baroka, so why not with Chippa? Against a Soweto team [Orlando Pirates],” he added.
“It was a long road because we started with Sundowns, Wits then Pirates and even Chippa can do the same, it’s a good side, one team in the province, playing good football, the dream is to lift it [the trophy].”
