Chippa United chairman Siviwe Mpengesi said Gavin Hunt was talking “nonsense” when he called the sacking of Daine Klate as “disgraceful”.
Mpengesi, who was high in high spirits after Chippa beat AmaZulu 2-1 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, said Hunt has even insulted players from the Eastern Cape when he suggested that Klate was never supported due to the signings the club made.
Hunt knows the conditions of working at Chippa. He was appointed at the beginning of last season but he was fired in November last year after 10 matches in charge.
The SuperSport United coach then took Chippa to the PSL DC for the breach of contract, where he won the case and got his money as the PSL took it upon Chippa’s monthly grant.
“He’s talking nonsense and that is why we fired him,” replied Mpengesi to Hunt.
“He is even disrespectful to the players from PE. When you see this game against AmaZulu, you can see Chippa is not short of players.”
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When Chippa beat AmaZulu 2-1, Siyabulela Gwambi was named as the coach while Morgan Mammila was his assistant.
“These players were short of guidance. We don’t have a problem with Daine Klate. But if Gavin Hunt says these players in his eyes are nothing, but Klate did not say that, then I don’t know,” he continued.
“Chippa United is like any other club, so we won’t listen to Hunt because he was happy because he won (SuperSport beat Maritzburg United 2-1 on Friday). But I’m sure wherever he is his heart is in pain since we won. We’ll meet Gavin Hunt on the field.”
Mammila has divided opinions since he joined Chippa, with many questioning his coaching ability.
The former Baroka FC CEO returned to Chippa last week and was on the bench as Chippa lost 1-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday. A day later Klate was fired.
“Look at me Mpengesi today. I’m a boy who grew up in the shacks. I was working as a security guard. Now I run many businesses,” said Mpengesi.
“To me I don’t judge how far you academically went. I look at the talent and the passion and we have to give our people a chance.
“These opportunities were not there before. I don’t understand when people say I’m looking down on the league because previously I appointed Hunt, Ernst Middendorp, the coaches who have everything.
“But when it comes to the field, we didn’t see the results. I’m not disrespecting the league, I just believe in black people, whether you are educated or not. So we’ll help Morgan because he loves the club.”
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