Chippa United celebrated a goal by teammate Sergio Kammies that almost brought them a historic victory over Mamelodi Sundowns at Buffalo City Stadium last weekend.
The decision by Chippa United to hold some home matches at the Buffalo City Municipality stadium was not widely accepted. However, a rare source of inspiration recently appeared in the team's locker room—the traditional group OoSokhethabahle.
OoSokhethabahle received permission to enter the 'Chilli Boys' locker room during preparations for warm-ups against Milford FC and Mamelodi Sundowns during the last two home matches in Kogumpo. They brought incredible energy into the room using igwijo songs, dances, and musical instruments. This clearly paid off, as the energized players took to the field with increased confidence, leading to a draw against both high-class Milford and Sundowns.
The draw with African giants Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday felt like a defeat. Chippa gave everything, taking the lead through Sergio Kimmies 12 minutes before the end of regular time. Nevertheless, carelessness on the final extra-time shot allowed the visitors to equalize through Antonio van Wyk, forcing both teams to settle for just one point.
Chippa realizes they missed out on two points. Their fans, who traveled from all over the Eastern Province, braved the rainy weather to support the team, while OoSokhethabahle entertained the crowd in the best way they know how throughout the match.
Meanwhile, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso looked disappointed after the final whistle. He complained about the poor pitch, which limited the fluidity of the game, adding that the compact stadium hindered their ability to maintain and rotate possession. Cardoso was already unhappy with Chippa's choice of venue, especially since the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium is undergoing renovations, questioning why the hosts did not play the match at Kings Park. The Sundowns mentor seemed to forget that Chippa previously hosted Orlando Pirates in Durban only because both their local stadiums were awaiting PSL approval.
Chippa has scheduled matches against Kruger United in October, Sekhukhune United and Kaizer Chiefs in November at the BCM stadium. Judging by the influence of the traditional group OoSokhethabahle, the 'Chilli Boys' are well-prepared to deliver stronger performances and gather important results.