This week's DoRego's revolving blog features Chippa United's Rudiger Gilbert.
We lost against Free State Stars but we played well. We were down there at the bottom and I think the 3-1 win against Black Leopards has boosted our confidence for the Wits game. We didn't play badly against Stars, it's just that we made three mistakes and they punished us. We deserved to win on the weekend.
It was only the second game for the new guys like Mbulelo Mabizela, Masibusane Zongo and I. We must go out, do well and give the same performance. The supporters played a big role for us as well. If it wasn't for them coming out in numbers, we wouldn't have done as well. They must keep on doing that because I think they help us a lot, especially now that we are down there fighting relegation. It's not easy for us to do it alone and their support will make it easier for us. As for my own performance, you know, I've been out of the game for six months and I didn't have a preseason and was training on my own. But I think I did well on the day, especially when you consider my fitness. The more I play with my teammates, my confidence will come back and I will start playing my normal game.
On the Wits game,they won't want to lose after they got beaten by Bloemfontein Celtic, but we want to keep consistent. We don't want to win, lose, win, lose. We must go there with confidence and show fighting spirit. I'd be happy with a draw, but we can't lose again! It's going to be a nice game and we are focused on it.
I think the coach is very good. Coaches have different philosophies and we are just doing the things that he wants us to do. In terms of the environment, every player has to adjust to the environment he finds himself in because you aren't going to play in one place forever. If a team wants you, you must go there! You can't have a problem with the environment. You must just adjust and keep on working.
We've got 110% support from our management, especially the club boss, but it still lies in our hands as players to fight against relegation. Things are getting better and we encourage each other. The experienced guys like Mabizela and Brent Carelse motivate these young boys a lot and I think they can do the job. Like I said, it all depends on us, but I think the management is behind us, as well as our supporters. I think we must just work as a team, especially in the situation we're in. We need fighters. We need players who've got guts and I think we have them here.
Many people were sceptical about my signing for Chippa, but I'm not a Bad Boy and I don't think I've got a point to prove. The reason Chippa (Mpengesi) signed us is because he sees the quality in us and he knows that we can do the job for him. What people are saying in the media about us doing bad things... why are they not saying we are doing good things when we do good things? You see what I mean! But I think we can do the job for the team and we're positive that we are going to avoid relegation.
You know, it was very frustrating for me to be out of the game for a long time. I wanted to get back into the game as quickly as possible, but I had to first sort out my things with Free State Stars. It took a while before I sorted out those issues, but I knew that as soon as I got my clearance, I would start looking for a team. After I got my clearance, it wasn't even two or three months before I got a club. I never had a doubt that I would get a club because I believe. I'm a big believer. I never, ever doubt my ability. I know I'm a good player and I know I can do a good job, but sometimes when the media is writing bad things about you, some teams won't want to sign you. But, on the other hand, there are teams and coaches that believe in you, that you can do the job. I knew that I would come back to the game soon.
I got two call-ups to Bafana Bafana before, but my main goal now is to help Chippa stay in the PSL. I've only signed for five months. I don't know if they are going to give me a new contract, but I hope so, so that I can go to a full preseason camp, get my fitness and confidence back and start working hard to get a call-up to the national team.
To our supporters, they must keep on coming, especially to our home games. We can't do it alone, as we showed on Sunday. If they can come in their numbers like they did on the weekend, we'll appreciate it very much. Chippa is not going down...we are going to make sure of it!
Rudiger Gilbert
Chippa United
