Chippa United are contesting their 12th season in the top flight but have only placed in the top eight once, in 2016 when they achieved sixth spot.
It looks as though they may be headed for another lofty finish this season.
That largely depends on how they perform in their remaining four Betway Premiership matches and also whether Royal AM’s results are annulled, which appears likely once the Premier Soccer League resolves their behind-closed-doors matters.
Chippa are in ninth position on the table with 30 points behind Kaizer Chiefs in eighth with 31, AmaZulu in seventh with 33 and Polokwane City sixth on 36.
All three of the teams above Chippa will be affected if Royal AM’s results are declared null and void.
Chiefs will lose a point as they played to a 2-2 draw in November, AmaZulu will lose three points from their 2-1 victory in December, while Polokwane will also be docked three points as they had won 1-0 in October.
“We are hopeful, and we believe that now that we’ve reached that 30-point mark, anything is possible,” Chippa head coach Thabo September said.
“Chiefs are in the top eight at the moment, but with the situation in the league right now with Royal AM, it could take us higher than Chiefs.”
Chippa have tough away games left against Stellenbosch, SuperSport United and Marumo Gallants before they finish the season on May 24 at home to defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
September stressed at the weekend that his players needed to continue being versatile and adaptable, as it had been working for them in the past two months or so.
He has been moving players out of their normal positions, and the strategy has been working.
One of the players who converted well is Sergio Kammies.
When September tweaked his system in February and moved Kammies from right-back to defensive midfielder, it was a decision that raised eyebrows, mostly because he had not played the crucial role that much in his career.
But he now fits like a glove and has picked up a couple of man-of-the-match awards.
The other one has been centre-back Seun Ndlovu, who has been playing at right-back.
Meanwhile, reports on Tuesday emerged that left-back Azola Ntsabo and goalkeeper Darren Johnson have opened talks to renew their contracts.
“I think the two players are in future plans for Chippa United, and that’s why we have been discussing the new contracts,” Ntobatsi Mesegela, the agent of Ntsabo and Johnson, told football publication FARPost.
This weekend’s fixtures are:
Saturday: Kaizer Chiefs vs Marumo Gallants, FNB Stadium (3pm); Polokwane City vs SuperSport United, Old Peter Mokaba (3pm); Golden Arrows vs AmaZulu, Mpumalanga Stadium (3pm)
Sunday: TS Galaxy vs Sekhukhune, Dobsonville Stadium (3.30pm)
Tuesday: Stellenbosch vs Chippa United, Danie Craven Stadium (7.30pm); Mamelodi Sundowns vs Richards Bay, Loftus Versfeld (7.30pm)
Daily Dispatch
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