VLADIMIR Vermezovic says he is going on a voyage of discovery this coming week - to find out what has gone wrong with his team.

"We are not the same team we were in the beginning of the season. We've lost our command of possession, we've lost our energy. I'm going to find out what's happened," he said after Pirates lost 1-0 to Chippa United in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

"Even today and the last game against Kaizer Chiefs [in the MTN8 final], we lacked energy. I don't know what's going on but I am going to find out for sure."

He added: "I have some idea of what's going on and I'll try as soon as possible to fix these problems."

Vermezovic also blamed defeat at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on poor decisions at key moments.

"Again we made a silly mistake as we allowed them to run with the ball more than 80 metres but in the end it was an excellent goal from this guy [David Zulu]. We should have fouled him in the middle of the pitch."

Meanwhile, Chippa coach Roger Sikhakhane said he was in charge until told otherwise, but he is unlikely to be shifted sideways just yet after a second major scalp since taking over as caretaker coach.

"I know these questions keep on coming but for me, caretaker coach, head coach, assistant, all in all it's a coach," he said.

"I'm taking each and every game in front of me that I'm given until the club decides to identify those words of 'caretaker' or 'head coach'."

Sikhakhane took over after Kosta Papic left for Polokwane City and has engineered wins over Moroka Swallows (2-0 away) and Pirates.

He was in charge when Chippa first gained promotion to the Premiership three years ago.

"Previously the team was not balanced because of the problem we had registering our foreigners.

But now we have a bigger squad for selection and that's why we are better," Sikhakhane said.