Belgian coach Luc Eymael has expressed his deep disappointment following his sudden departure from Chippa United, admitting he felt he was denied the necessary time to turn the club’s fortunes around.
Eymael, a veteran of South African football having previously managed Free State Stars and Polokwane City, lasted just over a month in charge of the Betway Premiership side.
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His brief tenure yielded a frustrating record of one victory, two draws, and four defeats. The final straw was a loss to Marumo Gallants on Sunday, which left the Chilli Boys rooted to the bottom of the league standings with a mere six points from ten games.
Eymael’s Defence: Improvement and Bad Luck
Speaking to FARPost, the coach firmly defended his work, arguing the team was on an upward trajectory despite the poor results.
“I think everybody saw that the team was improving a lot. We created good opportunities now and again,” Eymael stated, adding that the team’s “brand of soccer was really better.”
He attributed the lack of wins to “bad luck” and costly individual errors, citing matches against Polokwane City FC and Marumo Gallants. He then challenged the swift decision to dismiss him, pleading for more patience.
“I should have expected more games to try to rectify everything because five or six games are very difficult. I am not a magician, but I am a very professional coach and a hard worker,” he insisted.
Ultimately, Eymael conceded to the club’s decision, saying, “At the end of the day, it’s life. It’s the decision of the boss and the committee, and I have to respect that.”
New Coach Takes Over
Chippa United has since confirmed that Vusumuzi Vilakazi will take over as head coach. This marks Vilakazi’s second stint with the club, following his recent departure from Motsepe Foundation Championship team, Kruger United, as he steps in to attempt to revive the struggling side.