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Chippa United head coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi has broken his silence on Stanley Nwabali’s departure from the club, making it clear that he had no hand in the decision.
The Super Eagles goalkeeper ended his four-year contract with the Chilli Boyz last week after mutually terminating his contract.
The timing raised eyebrows, coming barely weeks after the 29-year-old’s return from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where he impressed for Nigeria. Vilakazi admitted the exit came as a blow to his Chippa squad, especially given Nwabali’s status as club captain and first-choice goalkeeper. But he stressed that the process was handled without his involvement.
“It is a blow for us, looking at how Stanley did in Morocco. He’s a super keeper, but obviously with his decisions, I’m not involved in that,” Vilakazi was quoted by FAR Post.
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According to the coach, the talks that led to Nwabali’s exit were conducted directly between the player and the club chairman. By the time the decision was concluded, it was already settled. “So it was a discussion between him and the chairman, and they’ve agreed. I will only work with people who are in the system.” Nwabali’s rise in African football Nwabali joined Chippa United in 2022 and steadily built a reputation as one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the South African Premiership. The goalkeeper’s consistency and shot-stopping ability earned him a call-up to the Super Eagles, where he later established himself as the first choice ahead of Maduka Okoye.
Nwabali’s performances at AFCON 2025 in Morocco further boosted his profile as he played a key role in Nigeria’s campaign and left the tournament with his stock at its highest level yet.
Over the past year, he has been linked with several clubs across Africa and beyond, including Raja Casablanca, Orlando Pirates, and Kaizer Chiefs, according to Africa Top Sports.
