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The breakfasts have been uncomfortable for Chippa United at their team’s hotel, says coach Lehlohonolo Seema, as they have shared their accommodation with Kaizer Chiefs, the opponents of the Chilli Boys in Wednesday night’s potentially decisive showdown in the fight for the title of Amakhosi.
Chippa and Chiefs are based at the same hotel in the biobubble, Seema explained before the Absa Premiership clash at Orlando Stadium.
One of the most dramatic finishes of a league season saw the leading Chiefs and second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, separated on goal difference, both opportunities Sunday to bottle almost decisive blows for the other.
The Chiefs were beaten 1-0 by Bidvest Wits in an afternoon game as Sundowns failed to capitalize on the loss to Baroka FC in the evening.
Amakhosi’s penultimate match is against 12th-ranked Chippa, whose five points earned in a 1-1 draw against Highlands, 1-0 win against Baroka FC and 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch FC have seen the team Seema away from relegation danger by 31 points.
The Sundowns will face the bottom ranked Polokwane City at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday night.
Seema was asked if playing with the country’s most supportive team, whose fans are desperate for a league title after four seasons without the trophies, adds pressure for Chippa.
“All the teams, all the games we have played are important games. And of course we all have agendas to push, ”said the brilliant coach at an online press conference for the South African Association of Soccer Journalists.
“And of course we expect a very difficult match. It’s a bit awkward, because we stayed together in the same hotel with Chiefs. And when we go to eat we see each other ‚going to train‚ and they come [back].
“It’s one of those games that I said to players ‘Look, three points against Baroka is the same as three points against Kaizer Chiefs.’
“So for us it’s just getting on with the business of the day, making sure we don’t lose the game.
“For these last two games, if we can go without losing a game, we have a good chance of maintaining our status.
“I just told them they should put the pressure aside, enjoy the game, play and do whatever we agreed to, because we are all fighting for three points at the end of the day.
All Wednesday night games begin at 6pm.
The Chiefs complete their season against Baroka FC at Bidvest Stadium on Saturday and the Sundowns finish against the Black Leopards at Dobsonville Stadium.
Chippa’s last game is against Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium, and all games on Saturday will be played at 3.30pm.
