Experienced players have to come to the party if Chippa United want to gain maximum points against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.
That’s the word from seasoned Chippa winger Daine Klaite ahead of the team’s crucial Premiership League soccer match at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London.
Klate, 33, has six Absa Premiership League titles, four MTN 8 titles, one Telkom Knockout and three Nedbank Cup gold medals under his belt, and his experience will come in handy when the teams run out for battle.
The former Orlando Pirates player said their fixture against the Pretoria side was a vital one as the Chilli Boys try to make their way up the league table.
Chippa are 11th on the log, having collected a total of eight points from eight matches.
“It is vital for senior players to come to the party in games like these to show the younger ones in the team how it is done and lead by example, not only by talking but by your performance on the field,” Klate said.
“Playing Sundowns, who were African champions, and they are the league champions, so obviously it’s going to be a tough game for us. But I don’t think we fear them, we respect them.
“We are going to go into the game with no fear and get as many points as we can.
“Getting maximum points is first prize for us. We are at home and we have to make that count.”
The Port Elizabeth-based soccer outfit will be faced with yet another challenging fixture after the Sundowns match – in the form of Kaizer Chiefs.
“We are not looking too far ahead. We have to take one game at a time.
“We are not concerned about Chiefs at the moment, we first have to play Sundowns on Saturday in East London.
“We have to try and do well in that game and then after that we can focus on Chiefs, but for now we have to take it one game at a time.
“The most important game is the one in front of us,” said Klate.
At least Chippa United coach Eric Tinkler will have two weeks to prepare his troops to face the mighty Chiefs.