Lehlohonolo Seema: I did not have a Chippa contract

The former Lesotho national team and Orlando Pirates captain helped Chippa avoid relegation from the DStv Premiership after he was given four games by chairman Siviwe ‘Chippa’ Mpengesi to rescue them from the drop. 

Seema took charge on 1 May against Kaizer Chiefs as a replacement for Kurt Lentjies with Mpengesi desperate to secure his topflight status, but seemingly running out of time – and fixtures. 

“It was a verbal agreement. I was not working at the time after the season ended with Peace Makers [in the ABC Motsepe League], and I got a call from the chairman,” said Seema on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified with host Andile Ncube. 

“We met face to face and he asked me to take over the remaining four matches. There was no contract. We agreed that I would do my best in those games and then we can take it from there.” 

Chippa lost 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs, but went on to beat Richards Bay 3-2, got thrashed 4-0 by TS Galaxy and earned a point in a dull goalless draw when they faced Golden Arrows in Gqeberha on the final day of the season last weekend. 

The stalemate was enough to guarantee Chippa stayed up, with Seema obviously taking credit for getting the job done. 

However, as confirmed by SABC Sport on Wednesday morning the club opted against keeping the coach beyond the four matches.

“I can’t say I was fired,” said Seema. 

“The chairman called me to say that he appreciated what I had done for Chippa and he wanted to personally thank me, but he has other plans. In the past, you got information from people at the club about your future – like it happened to me before when I was there. But this time it came from him. There was no signed contract, we had an agreement and it came to an end. So people can’t say I was fired.” 

Asked whether he’d been paid, the coach was diplomatic. 

“It’s not the end of the month yet,” he insisted.