Truter says Mpengesi’s backing lifted Chippa United to victory

Chippa United coach Brandon Truter says chairman Siviwe Mpengesi’s show of support helped give the team the confidence to beat Stellenbosch 2-0 at the weekend.

Mpengesi visited the squad before Saturday’s match at Danie Craven Stadium, reaffirming his belief in the players and coaching staff.

Truter believes the chairman’s intervention had a positive effect as Chippa recorded their second victory of the campaign. The result moved the Chilli Boys up to seventh in the log table, with 11 points from nine matches.

“It was a difficult week for us and an enlightening one, the chairman visited us and he just reaffirmed his belief in the squad and belief in everybody,” Truter said.

“And that gave us a bit of confidence and from there the training was good and the preparations were well and the boys knew what they had to do against Stellenbosch.”

Chippa kept a disciplined shape to secure the clean sheet, with Truter praising the players’ commitment during the match.

“Thanks to their effort we were disciplined in defence; the guys worked their socks off for those results and the biggest obstacle for us now is how we will manage it,” he added.

Truter also criticised the media coverage surrounding his position, saying reports had suggested he should have been dismissed during a difficult run of results.

“There has been a lot said in the media about me still being around at Chippa. I don’t really read much of what’s said in the media, but when I have time, I see that they are saying I should’ve been fired,” he said.

“But Chippa last season, how many points did they have [at this stage of the season]? They had one, so where are we now and how is the start?”

The coach acknowledged there was pressure to produce victories but rejected what he described as a media-driven narrative calling for his removal.

“The media is driving the narrative that I should be fired. Yes, there is pressure, we need to win and we are entertainers as well. But sometimes we need to be mindful of how we do things,” Truter said.

He said Chippa were working to change the perception surrounding the club and believed recent performances showed that progress was being made.

“At Chippa there is a culture where we are trying to end the stigma that’s around the media. The team is doing well at the moment and there’s progress.”

Chippa United’s next match is against Kaizer Chiefs on November 28 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.