Mammila 'proud' of his time at Chippa

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Mar 02, 2023. 13:00

Morgan Mammila insists he will walk away from Chippa United with pride after lifting the DStv Premiership club out of the relegation zone during his time at the helm.

Trigger-happy Chilli Boys chairman Siviwe Mpengesi relieved Mammila of his duties this week in the wake of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Swallows at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, which left his team just three points above the drop zone in 13th place.

He had only been appointed head coach in September last year as a replacement for replace Daine Klate, who was sacked just seven games into his tenure following a record of one win, two draws and four losses.

Mammila made an impressive start, winning four matches on the spin to guide Chippa away from immediate danger, although results have wavered recently and he claimed just one victory in his next 10 games.

Kurt Lentjies was been brought back to the Eastern Cape outfit to steady the ship but Mammila will look back at his stint with satisfaction, knowing he achieved what was asked of him.

“I am a proud man where I am with all that has happened during my time at Chippa,” he said. “Let’s be honest, I am not a superior coach. I just started yesterday, and even I wouldn’t risk my status and give it to someone like me.

“That is why I am saying let’s congratulate Chippa [Mpengesi] for taking a good decision to hire me, and a decision he made all on his own without being influenced by anyone.

“He saw that I could be a good coach all by myself; I was shocked I had not even expected it when he offered me a coaching position at the club.

“We don’t know where this team would have been if it wasn’t for him. The teams that were down there at that time of my appointment are still there – Maritzburg United are still there, Marumo Gallants are still there.

“I am congratulating him on how it started and how it has ended. We don’t have to look only at the end product; we have to look at how it started.”