Klate banking on Ighodaro for firepower

After struggling up front in their opening game against SuperSport United, Chippa United head coach Daine Klate is banking on their newly-signed striker for their next fixture.

Chippa have confirmed the signing of Etiosa Godspower Ighodaro from Mamelodi Sundowns just in time for their next DStv Premiership game against Royal AM on Wednesday.

The two teams will be meeting at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in what will be the 37-year-old tactician™s first game at home for the Chilli Boys this season.

After Sunday™s 1-1 draw at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, Klate bemoaned the lack of firepower up front as he was forced to use veteran attacker Andile Mbenyane to lead the line but he™s now banking on Ighodaro™s availability going forward.

"We have a little bit of ammunition back in PE, we have a striker and obviously he'll come in, there's been a little bit of work permit issues," explained Klate.

"I think that number-9 will come in and make a big difference, he puts himself about and he's a very good player, so that's obviously an area [to strengthen]. Hopefully, we have him available for Wednesday and we can take it from there.

"But I thought Andile did a fantastic job, he put himself about and worked for the team. He didn't think about himself, and that's what I like about the players - nobody thought of themselves."

Ighodaro has been in the country for the last three years and featured for Sundowns™ ABC Motsepe League side M-Tigers before going on loan last season at University of Pretoria, with whom he scored four goals in 18 matches and almost helped them earn promotion to the Premiership. 

Chippa chairman Siviwe Mpengesi is banking on the 23-year-old to boost their attack and adds that there could be two or three more new signings added to Klate's squad before the close of the transfer window on 22 September.

"Yes, we were late to register our players on Friday so we could not register two strikers and one defender. I'm happy that on Wednesday against Royal AM we will have our full squad," said Mpengesi.

"We are looking, we might have one or two [more] signings because we are still only 24 players, so we still have vacancies for two or three players.

"The season is long and, as you can see, every three days we've got a game because of the World Cup, so we are not going to take things for granted. We need to beef up our team."

By Velile Mnyandu