Newly appointed head coach of Chippa United, Brandon Truter (pictured), says he’s not intimidated by the daunting hotseat and fire at will Chippa United who are in a fight for survival in the Betway Premier League – adding that he could be the exception to the ‘norm.’ as
The 47-year-old Truter, who has been without a job since leaving NFD side Upington City about a year ago, was roped in to replace Vusumuzi Vilakazi for Chippa’s final game of the season against Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium on Saturday – and to ensure that the Gqeberha-based side secure their PSL-status for next season.
He becomes the club’s seventh coach of the season and 34th in total since they were promoted to the PSL in 2012.
Furthermore, Truter’s boss, Chippa Mpengesi, has also already assured that his appointment will continue into the new season as well.
The Cape Town-born Truter have the perfect opportunity to vindicate Mpengesi’s decision should he manage to secure their PSL-status on the last day of the season.
“Look, for me a job is a job,” Truter said to No Bones with Jones. “We as coaches don’t really pack out our bags, you know. And Chippa has a history of firing coaches and just maybe I’m the one that stays because…
“Listen, the club, the chairman and together with his family and the board have a vision they presented to me. I said sure, it’s a good plan but that it needs to be sustained and that there needs to be continuity to achieve the things you want to achieve and want to create with the club,” he added.
The Chilli Boyz, as Chippa is called, currently occupies the 13th position with a one point lead over Maruma Gallants and Orbit College (both 24 points), with Magesi FC a point behind in the last position, so things are too call and everything will be decided on the last day of the season – at the top of the log as well as the bottom.
Now “Brakkies,” as Truter is affectionately known, is also no stranger to pressure situations as he has shown he thrives on uncomfortable moments like these and should have what it takes to get the job done – just as he has shown when he promoted Swallows to the PSL and saved Sekhukhune United in 2022 from relegation against all odds.
“Hopefully I’m the man to knit all those things together and maybe I’m the coach that stays here for long but I’m well aware of their history but it doesn’t scare me at all. Actually, it poses me with a good challenge and one I’m looking forward to.
“Look, it’s one game to go and it gives me an opportunity to work a bit closer to staff members and players that are here and also to assess them in a live game and not just on training or during the preseason or anything like that.
“So, that ought to give me a better idea of what and who I’m working with and that is one of the reasons why I came in now and not during the preseason,” Truter concluded.
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