Chippa United coach Dan Malesela labelled the 2-1 defeat to Platinum Stars a "sad loss" and says the Chilli Boys must pick up the pieces for Tuesday's visit of title contenders Bidvest Wits. Chippa opened the scoring against Stars via striker Lerato Manzini, but Robert Ng'ambi equalised after the break before Benson Shilongo netted an 88th minute winner in Rustenburg last Friday. “We stopped playing in the second half. We defended badly. This is a sad loss,” Malesela told the club's website. “We need to start showing character and show the same attitude regardless of the opposition. “We had a superb first half and we should have scored more.”

'Dance' refused to blame the toil of their midweek encounter with Mamelodi Sundowns for the result. “The midweek game had no effect on the result. We made things difficult for ourselves here and we must pick the pieces and focus on the next one on Tuesday.” Chippa, in 10th place on the table with 22 points from 20 games, will host Wits at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane at 19h30 tomorrow.