Nooij unsure of Santos future

Cape Town - Santos coach Mart Nooij does not know at this stage if he will lead the relegated side in the National First Division next season.

The Peoples' Team, league champions in 2002, were bumped down from the Absa Premiership on Saturday after losing 4-3 to Chippa United at Philippi Stadium.

Needing to win the game to stay in the top flight, Santos fought back from two goals down to level matters at 2-2 at half-time.

Some sloppy defence saw Chippa taking a 4-2 advantage before Santos grabbed a late goal to reduce the deficit.

Nooij, a former coach of the Mozambique national team, was brought in to help the Cape outfit with five games to go in the recently concluded Premiership camaign after the club relieved former head coaches Boebie Solomons and Duncan Crowie.

He had hoped to save the club from relegation, but having failed to do so, the Dutchman was unsure as to whether he would continue to be employed.

"We lost this game and I came here to Cape Town to save the team from relegation," Nooij said.

"I'm not sure what will happen now. I'm not watching myself, we'll wait and see what the future brings."

Chippa midfielder Roscoe Pietersen, meanwhile, had already signed a contract with SuperSport United ahead of the promotion-relegation playoffs and will now face his former team-mates in the 2012/13 Premiership season.

"I feel ecstatic, I feel over the moon," Pietersen said.

"I've given everything I have to this team and it's good to leave on a high.

"It's not bitter-sweet for me, it's sweet-sweet, because the chairman wanted promotion and that's what I gave him, so I'm leaving on a high.

"I'm very much looking forward to playing for SuperSport."

Chippa, based in Philippi in the Cape Flats, will become the first black-owned side from the Mother City to play in the top flight. The club was formed less than three years back.

Pietersen paid tribute to club owner and chairman Chipa Mpengesi, who has been the driving force behind the side's remarkable rise from the third-tier Vodacom League to the PSL in just two seasons.

"What makes this team special is the chairman," Pietersen said.

"He comes with this confidence, with this arrogance, and he just passes that down to the team - that's why we are so successful."