Thopola ready to take up Chippa’s captaincy

THE departure of former Chippa United skipper Thamsanqa Sangweni for Orlando Pirates has left the captaincy armband up for grabs for the coming Premier Soccer League season.

Defender Diamond Thopola is likely to be the man to take up the job.

This will be his third season with the Port Elizabeth side.

Thopola, 26, is no stranger to the task, as he wore the armband during his stay at National First Division side Thanda Royal Zulu.

If given the opportunity to lead the Chippa this season, Thopola said he would take the offer.

“I will give that one to the team until they announce it, but if I [were picked as] captain, I would grab the opportunity with both hands. It will be a new challenge for me.

“We learn every day and it’s not all about me. Since we have experienced players, some of whom have captained before, they will be there to help me and back me.

“I am not perfect. This is a team sport. It’s not about one person. “We are here to help each other.” During their two-week preseason camp in Durban, Thopola said, he had been interim captain for friendlies.

ý Mamelodi Sundowns have not confirmed the transfer of Oupa Manyisa to that club from Orlando Pirates‚ raising speculation that a swap announced by Bucs chairman Irvin Khoza yesterday is far from a done deal.

Khoza did say the transfer of Bucs captain Manyisa would be a swap, with the details still to be finalised.

But he had the confidence – surprisingly to Sundowns‚ apparently – to announce it as being almost certain to go through.