Chippa United boss Brandon Truter demands more after missed chances in Milford draw

Chippa United coach Brandon Truter says his side must turn promising performances into victories after they were held to a goalless draw by newly promoted Milford FC on their return to the Eastern Cape.

The Betway Premiership side remain without a win from their opening five league matches, having recorded four draws and one defeat. Saturday’s stalemate at Buffalo City Stadium was their fourth draw in five games this season.

Truter felt Chippa should have taken all three points in their first home match back in the Eastern Cape, particularly after creating several opportunities against Milford. He also identified earlier draws against Richards Bay and Siwelele as matches in which his team had been in a position to secure victories.

“We should be winning in front of them, and I’m sorry to the supporters, but at the same time, I’m thankful to them for coming out in numbers and getting behind the team. There were chances today; Mlotshwa later got in there, Matrose had a chance, and Justice had a chance. So for us, we should be turning this draw into three points very soon because there was an opportunity against Richards Bay when we took the lead, and we took the lead against Siwelele, so, ja, we just didn’t manage to score today, but structurally, we were very good,” said Truter.

The coach credited Milford with making the match difficult for Chippa, but believed the visitors did not create enough danger in the final third to seriously threaten his side.

For Chippa, the result extended a frustrating run in which their performances have not been matched by results. Truter’s main concern is not the team’s ability to create openings, but its failure to finish them.

He believes improved finishing could already have earned Chippa more points from matches in which they have competed well. The goalless draw against Milford therefore represented another missed opportunity rather than a performance he viewed as fundamentally poor.

The match also marked Chippa’s return to Buffalo City Stadium after the club had been forced to relocate its home fixtures during August. Both Buffalo City Stadium and Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium underwent pitch maintenance during that period, requiring the team to play its home matches elsewhere.

Truter acknowledged the work involved in preparing Buffalo City Stadium for Chippa’s return and welcomed the support provided by the home crowd.

Despite the club’s difficult start, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has continued to receive international recognition after being included in Nigeria’s squad. Truter described the goalkeeper’s return to the national set-up as another positive development for both Nwabali and Chippa United.

Chippa face a demanding test in their next league match, when they host Mamelodi Sundowns at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 12 September. They then travel to play TS Galaxy on 20 September.

Their next home league fixture after that will be against Kruger United at Buffalo City Stadium on 17 October. By then, Truter will hope Chippa have begun converting their chances into the wins that have so far eluded them.