Former Chippa United head coach Kwanele Kopo has shed light on his surprising exit from the club, revealing more details on what led to his departure.
Kopo parted ways with Chippa in December 2024, adding to a large number of coaches that left their respective clubs in the Betway Premiership.
The former SuperSport United coach joins a long list of departed coaches, such as Clinton Larsen, Manqoba Mngqithi, Peter Hyballa, Mabhuti Khayeza, Dylan Kerr, Brandon Truter, Pablo Franco Martin, and Eric Tinkler.
Kopo has been with The Chilli Boys for 12 months after joining them in January 2024. Initially, the highly-rated coach joined Chippa alongside Thabo September as co-coaches. He was later named as the sole head coach with September serving as the assistant coach.
The ex-Pretoria Callies mentor left Chippa at position 10 on the log standings with 14 points after 11 games. The Gqeberha-based outfit won four league games, drew two and lost five times.
In the previous season, Chippa finished 12th on the league table, and they made it to the semi-final of the Nedbank Cup, where they lost to Orlando Pirates.
After proving to have stabilised Chippa United, Kopo was offered a new contract after his initial deal expired on the 1st of January 2025.
KOPO OPENS UP ON HIS EXIT FROM CHIPPA UNITED
“Obviously, Chippa offered me a [new] contract during the season, but they also thought that I’d be homesick; I declined to sign that extension for my own reasons,” Kopo said on Radio 2000.
“I felt that I needed a change of environment, but I appreciate the opportunity given to me. It was my decision to leave Chippa, it was for my personal reasons which I can’t disclose.
“So I was offered a three-year contract; I was surprised and taken aback by the confidence and excitement that the chairman [Chippa Mpengesi] showed at that moment. We were getting good results but I needed a change of environment.
“Even the money was good to be honest, things were going well and it had nothing to do with the terms of the contract, there were one or two minor things like the termination clause. The chairman even offered to move my family to Port Elizabeth, but I couldn’t continue.”
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