New Chippa United man Eymael demands hunger and mentality shift after poor start

New Chippa United head coach Luc Eymael has questioned his players’ mentality after the club’s dreadful start to the Betway Premiership campaign left them at the foot of the table.

The Chilli Boys have lost four of their opening five matches, scoring only twice while conceding 10 goals. That poor run has already cost former coach Sinethemba Badela and his assistant Musa Nyatama their jobs, paving the way for the return of Eymael.

The Belgian mentor, now 65, last worked in South Africa in 2017/18 when he steered the now-defunct Free State Stars from the relegation zone to an impressive sixth-place finish. 

Chippa will hope he can repeat that rescue act in Gqeberha.However, his first game back on the touchline ended in a defeat to Orlando Pirates at the weekend, leaving Eymael with plenty of work to do. 

With the international break looming, he will have a two-week window to assess his squad and instil the mentality he believes is lacking.

“We have to work a lot mentally, winning is a culture and it is a long time since Chippa finished in the top,” Eymael said.

“I think if we can do that then it will be a very good season. I’ve only been here a week but I’m not a magician, I’m just a hard worker.”

The outspoken coach challenged his players to embrace professionalism and hunger, making comparisons to the football culture elsewhere on the continent.

“The players have to understand that South Africa is the Europe of Africa, players get the best pitches, accommodation and nice boots, they have everything if you compare to Congo for example,” he explained.

“Those players are hungry and they show it every training session and game and that’s what I want from this team.”

Eymael drew on his past experience with Free State Stars as a reminder that tough starts can be turned around with the right mindset.

“When I came to Free State Stars they were also second from bottom and I lost the first two games there but we won in Polokwane and then we went on to do what we did that season,” he said.

But he admitted his current squad may need more than just mental strengthening, hinting at squad reinforcements and concerns about fitness.

“I think we need more experienced players, this team is very young and also they’re not as fit as I’d want them to be,” Eymael added.

Chippa, once again in survival mode, will need to show rapid improvement under the Belgian if they are to avoid another season of relegation battles.