Blow for Chippa as Nwabali ruled out of Chiefs’ clash
Chippa United have been dealt a telling blow on the eve of their crunch DStv Premiership fixture against Kaizer Chiefs at the Buffalo City Stadium tomorrow (3pm).
The Chilli Boys will be without their star number one goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, who received a yellow card in their 2-0 win against Cape Town Spurs at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday that triggered a suspension.
Co-coach Thabo September said as disappointing as it was not to have Nigerian Nwabali play against Amakhosi, his suspension would allow Chippa’s other goalkeepers to show their talents.
September and Kwanele Kopo will now have to choose between keepers Lloyd Kazapua, Darren Johnson and Lukhanyo July to see who will command the backline against Chiefs tomorrow.
“Stanley has been suspended for Saturday and it’s a setback for us in terms of our planning to lose a big player like him,” September said.
“However, it gives a great opportunity to the other goalkeepers who are in the club.
“We will give those guys an opportunity and he needs to sit out on this one.
“He is disappointed [about the yellow card].
“I have already spoken to him, but this is how football is sometimes.”
The coach said he would not make major changes to the side for the Chiefs fixture.
“We didn’t really plan for them. We planned for us and how we would play.
“We have been playing almost the same team in all the games,” he said.
“So, going into this one, we are going to more or less express ourselves in the same manner we always play.”
Goals from Sinoxolo Kwayiba and Kayden Francis saw Chippa claim their sixth win of the season in the league when they beat Spurs on Wednesday night.
September said the win had eased some pressure ahead of their blockbuster clash against the Glamour Boys.
“The win against Spurs on Wednesday was huge, not even for Saturday but for the season for us because they are a direct competition to us in terms of the status of the team [on the log table].
“So it was a huge win for us, we go into Saturday’s game with a bit of calm.
“A small bit of pressure has been lifted.”
The victory saw the Chilli Boys move up to 11th on the log, just four points away from the top-eight spot which Chiefs now occupy.
Asked about their chances of finishing in the top half this season, September said: “We will just play each game as it comes, the most important thing is the status of the club.
“The Nedbank and other things, those things don’t bother us.
“We want to really make sure that we keep the status first.
“Then, of course, if an opportunity comes and we do well and get into the top eight, that will be good.”