Chiefs to open formal talks for Nwabili?
While Kaizer Chiefs are not expected to sign players this transfer window, as per football manager Bobby Motaung’s confirmation to Soccer Laduma earlier this week, Chippa United and Nigeria national team goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili remains a target for the side, as confirmed by sources.
The 27-year-old is having an impressive Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles, having played all three games as they advanced to the Last 16 of the competition following a 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau on Monday. He has conceded only one goal as Nigeria won two and drew one in three games on their way to finishing second in Group A behind Equatorial Guinea, though tied on the same number of points.
With Amakhosi understood to be in search of a goalkeeper to replace Itumeleng Khune, whose playing contract is unlikely to be extended when it expires in June, Nwabili is one of the targets, as confirmed by close sources.
“Expect Chiefs to begin formal talks for Stanley Nwabili in the coming weeks. He is a player that the club has been monitoring for his progress at Chippa, and now at Afcon for Nigeria. He is a good goalkeeper who is seen as a potential replacement for Khune,” a source revealed.
The bulky net minder joined the Chilli Boys last season, and he has since become the club’s number one.
Despite inconsistent results by the Gqeberha-based outfit, the shot-stopper has managed to keep seven clean sheets so far in the 2023/24 campaign and is behind only Cape Town City’s Darren Keet (eight) and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Ronwen Williams (nine) on the charts.
As previously reported by the Siya crew, Nwabili is understood to have also attracted interest from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium.
Sage Stephens of Stellenbosch FC also does remain a target, as reported by Soccer Laduma in last week’s edition, with it likely that Amakhosi will welcome a new keeper ahead of next season. It will all depend on negotiations and whether they are willing to fork out the big money for the highly-rated stars!