Truter pleased with Chippa United progress despite wait for first win

Brandon Truter says Chippa United are making encouraging progress despite remaining without a victory in the Betway Premiership this season.

Chippa have collected five points from six matches, drawing five and losing once to defending champions Orlando Pirates. That represents an improvement on their start last season, when they were beaten four times in their opening six games.

Club chair Siviwe Mpengesi also appeared satisfied with the team’s development after Chippa came within seconds of securing their first league win against Mamelodi Sundowns at Buffalo City Stadium in KuGompo City on Saturday.

Mpengesi spoke to Truter in the tunnel before the match and later visited the dressing room to offer encouragement after the sides drew 1-1 in wet and muddy conditions in front of a packed crowd.

The result was particularly notable given expectations that African champions Mamelodi Sundowns would control the contest. Some pundits had predicted that the Pretoria side would settle the match before half-time.

Instead, Chippa were the more assured team in possession. They controlled the midfield and made more frequent inroads into the Sundowns penalty area.

That pressure produced a second-half goal from Sirgio Kammies, but the lead disappeared with virtually the final kick of the match. Antonio van Wyk equalised after Chippa goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali failed to punch clear a cross.

Truter said the result could have been different without two individual errors.

“The chair is happier than us. We could have got the win wrapped up against Downs, but it was the two individual mistakes that cost us the three points,” he said.

“Not many people gave us a chance that we would possibly get our first win against Sundowns. The chair was happy with the progress and the character shown in the game.

“Yes, he still wants that first win, but he reminded us in the dressing room after the game that last season they only reached five points in December.”

Truter believes Chippa’s unbeaten sequence is a more accurate reflection of their improvement than the number of draws they have recorded.

“People are looking at the draws, but on our side we are looking at five games unbeaten (four consecutive). Even in that Pirates game we went toe-to-toe with them for 60 minutes as well,” he said.

“From where the club comes from, we take confidence from the progression we have week to week.

“Even in the previous game against Milford we were on the front foot and kept possession and created chances.”

Mpengesi had already changed coaches several times by this stage of last season, after six matches, but Truter said the chair’s reaction this term showed his backing for the current progress.

Chippa United’s next league fixture is against TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday, September 20.