Baroka, Chippa in crunch match

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Jan 31, 2019. 09:04

Baroka FC and Chippa United will have a crunch Absa Premiership relegation clash at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on 3 February 2019, kick-off at 15h30.

Baroka have gone three league matches without a win after they held Orlando Pirates 1-1 away from home on January 22. The Limpopo side has won just once in their last six Premiership outings.

Bakgaga have claimed just seven points from eight home matches this season, with their last result as hosts a 2-1 loss at the hands of Black Leopards in early January.

Chippa broke a three-game losing streak (and a 10-match winless run) with a 2-0 victory at home to Maritzburg United on January 19, thanks to goals from Tebogo Tlolane and Andile Mbenyane.

The Chilli Boys have claimed just four points from nine winless away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 4-2 loss at Orlando Pirates in early January.

In head-to-head stats, Chippa and Baroka have met in five league matches since 2016/17. The Chilli Boys have claimed three wins compared to one for Bakgaga, while one match has been drawn. The Limpopo side has recorded one draw and one defeat from two matches as hosts in the rivalry.

When the teams met earlier this season, at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in mid-September 2018, Chippa won 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Andile Mbenyane. It was their first victory in the rivalry since the 2016/17 season.

Baroka’s line-up from their 1-1 draw with Pirates on January 22: Chipezeze, Banda, Semenya, Sibiya, Gebhardt, Mabeba, Madigoe, Mosele, Makgaka (Mapheto 76’), Sodi (Chinyengetere 68’), Dickens (Chawapiwa 57’).

Chippa’s line-up from their 2-0 win over Maritzburg on January 19: Akpeyi, Macheke, Nsabayimvu, Shitolo, Malepe, Tlolane, Komane, Rakhale, Lentjies (Klate 77'), Mbenyane (Gamildien 83'), R Manzini (L. Manzini 80').