Chippa will not be relegated - Vilakazi

When he arrived for his second stint at the Gqeberha-based club six months ago, they were rooted at the bottom of the standings and his mandate was clear – climb up the table and secure the team’s status.

He has made progress, but there is still work to be done, as Chippa sit in 13th on the league standings, only four points separating them from bottom-placed Orbit College, while they are three points behind Magesi and Marumo Gallants, who occupy 14th and 15th respectively.

Vilakazi says he would love the opportunity to coach a team competing in the mid-to-top half of the table.

"It's an unfortunate situation where most of the time I have to try and rescue teams. It happened at Richards Bay, and it's happening now at Chippa, but I just see myself as someone who isn't afraid of taking on challenges. Maybe one day I'll take up a challenge of coaching a team that is always competing for a league, maybe that will happen."

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Speaking after their heavy 5-1 defeat to AmaZulu in their previous outing, and their failure to move further up the standings, Vilakazi remains confident that Chippa United will not be relegated.

Vilakazi is the club’s fifth coach of the 2025/26 season, after they began the campaign with Sinethemba Badela in charge, who left Chippa United after a six-week stint. They then had Musa Nyatama and Morgan Mamilla on the bench in caretaker roles, before appointing Belgian coach Luc Eymael.

Coach Kanu was asked whether the number of changes has affected the players.

"It's not easy to deal with the psychological aspect of the players, especially when everyone was saying we are down and out. Bringing hope to players is not an easy thing because players are never equal mentally. We've addressed that part and you can see a Chippa that is revived, and a Chippa that has an appetite for playing again."

One of the areas Vilakazi will need to address going forward is their performance on the road. This season, in 13 away matches, they have managed just one win. Vilakazi says it remains a work in progress, especially considering that he joined the team mid-season. However, with four games to go, he adds that he is targeting at least two wins...

Chippa United are next in action against Sekhukhune United on 5 May.