The coach of Chippa United escaped serious injuries from South Africans after he expressed his support for their goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and the Nigerian Super Eagles.
Siviwe Mpengasi, the coach of Chippa United, ignited controversy across South Africa with his endorsement of the team’s standout, Stanley Nwabali. Pulse Sports Nigeria has learned that the Chippa United leader made the club’s stance known through an official announcement before the anticipated match between Nigeria and South Africa.
In an extensive statement shared on social media through the club’s official profile, Mpengesi praised the Premier Soccer League for contributing the highest number of players to AFCON and commended Bafana Bafana’s coach, Hugo Broos, for his preference for local talent. Nonetheless, he openly voiced his support for Nwabali, Chippa United’s main goalkeeper, and the Super Eagles in their game against South Africa, attributing his choice to Nwabali’s impressive performance and growing prominence. Nwabali, who represents Chippa United, has gained recognition at the tournament playing for Nigeria.
“As the Chairman of Chippa United FC and as a proud South African, I am placed in an extraordinary situation for this 2023 AFCON tournament because our Nigeria international, Stanley Nwabali, has been outstanding. His contributions to the Nigerian National Team have garnered worldwide attention, bringing him and our club international acclaim,” he stated. “Given Stanley’s enhanced profile and the global recognition it attracts to Chippa United FC, the impact has been purely beneficial. As such, I and Chippa United FC are in full support of our player Stanley Nwabali and the Nigerian Super Eagles in their upcoming match against South Africa,” he further stated.
The remarks by Mpengesi have sparked significant backlash on social media from South African supporters, who argue that the chairman’s allegiance should lie with his home country. The support expressed for an adversary team has been perceived by many as a disloyal act. The reactions reflect the controversy stirred by Mpengesi’s statement, overshadowing the anticipation for Bafana Bafana’s effort to advance to the AFCON final amidst the contentious atmosphere created by his divisive comments.