Chippa United head coach Luc Eymael might have given an indication that all is not well between the club and captain Stanley Nwabali following his surprise absence on Sunday.
The Super Eagles’ number one goalkeeper was a notable absentee during the club’s 2-1 loss to Polokwane City FC at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane in a Betway Premiership tie this past weekend.
The 29-year-old has previously been linked with a move away from Chippa, with European and Saudi Arabian clubs reportedly interested. This was after his impressive displays at the 2023 AFCON tournament in the Ivory Coast with Nigeria.
He was also recently quoted by the Nigerian publication Soccernet, where he indicated that he was not looking to leave the Betway Premiership club.
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“I would like to be in Europe now. But I have a contract with my current club, who were not prepared to let me go. I have to honour the contract I signed,” he told the publication.
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But despite being hesitant to address the question of Nwabali’s absence, Chippa coach Eymael admitted that it’s a problem that needs to be solved.
The coach also stated his intention to speak directly with chairman Siviwe Mpengesi about their plan to turn the club’s fortunes around. Chippa are at the bottom of the log standings with a single win, a draw and five defeats in their opening five games in the league.
“One important player was not there today [Sunday]. So it’s a problem that we have to solve,” Eymael told Journalists. “I must speak very frankly with my chairman [Siviwe Mpengesi]. We are together to try to take Chippa out of the hole.”
“I can’t talk about that. I prefer not to discuss it with the media. Firstly, we need to resolve the issue with the chairman. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the way it is. Sometimes, it happens in football. But it’s okay, you give a chance to other players.
“We have to work, and they [players] have to take a chance, you know. It’s important that everybody wants to play for Chippa United.”
Meanwhile, the transfer window period in South Africa closed on Monday, 22 September.
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