Chippa United coach Clinton Larsen remains adamant his team will survive to see another season in the Absa Premiership.
This is despite the Chilli Boys’ 1-0 setback against Bidvest Wits at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday.
Larsen said a win and a draw from their last four fixtures could be enough to save Chippa from relegation.
Asked if the loss against the Clever Boys would hamper his team’s chances of survival, Larsen said: “No I don’t think so, there are many other teams in such a precarious position.
“If you look at other teams, everybody in the bottom four to six are in the same position.
“So, for us it’s about bouncing back. We played a very good Wits team but we have got to make sure that after the cup game at the weekend we focus on our last four games.
“For me, I think one more win and a draw does the trick, but we have to get it.”
Although this is easier said than done, he says with the team’s fighting spirit on a high, the goal is achievable.
Of Friday night’s game the coach said: “I thought it was scrappy for both teams – you could see they played with a lot of desperation.
“There was so much at stake for them for obvious reasons, and for us to move away from the situation we are in.
“So, there was a lot of turnover in the game from both teams and it wasn’t very pretty to watch.
“But one thing both teams did was they fought. I’ve always said when I coach a team, if I lose a match I want to come off the pitch with my head held high. That is exactly how I can walk away from this loss.”
Chippa next play Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup semifinal at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates moved six points ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns in the South African Premiership title race on Saturday after a 2-1 home win over lowly Free State Stars.
The Soweto Buccaneers, who last won the title in 2012, have 50 points with three matches to play and defending champions Sundowns 44 with six fixtures remaining.
Black Leopards fought back to draw 1-1 with Kaizer Chiefs in Thohoyandou, with Lefa Hlongwane cancelling a goal from Malagasy Arohasina “Dax” Andrianarimanana.