Kaizer Chiefs defender Zitha Kwinika has cautioned his teammates against underestimating bottom-placed Chippa United ahead of their Betway Premiership clash on Wednesday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Despite Chippa’s poor run this season, Kwinika insists the Gqeberha side remain a difficult opponent with a disciplined structure.
Chiefs returns to domestic action after a challenging stint in the Caf Confederation Cup, where they secured only one point from their opening two Group D matches. Their last standout performance came nearly a month ago in a 4–1 win over Orbit College on November 4, and they will be hoping home comforts and league focus can reignite their momentum. A victory would move Chiefs within three points of the top of the table.
“Playing Chippa in PE will be a difficult game,” said Kwinika. “It is always tough playing them. We saw them in their past games and they are a good team, with a good structure. We are preparing for them, we have seen how they play, with and without the ball. So it is up to us to penetrate them and defend well to win the game. They are a stubborn team who won’t mind sitting back and playing on the counter.”
Chippa United arrives at the fixture with only one win from 14 league matches, having collected just eight points this season. Their last and only victory came on September 16 against Orbit College. The club has already rotated through three coaches under owner Chippa Mpengesi, with Sinethemba Badela and Luc Eymael dismissed before Vusumuzi Vilakazi returned to the hot seat.
While Chippa have proven difficult to break down at home holding Stellenbosch, Siwelele and Magesi to goalless draws they have also suffered heavy defeats, including 3–0 and 4–1 losses to AmaZulu and TS Galaxy respectively. Their attacking output remains a concern, with the side tied as the league’s lowest scorers, averaging just a goal every two games.
Chiefs, who have struggled with consistency in front of goal themselves, may not need many chances to secure maximum points. But with Chippa’s defensive stubbornness and counter-attacking threat, Kwinika’s warning is clear: this will be no routine outing for Amakhosi.
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