Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Chippa United matter no too sweet as dem dey struggle for bottom of the Betway Premiership. Captain Stanley Nwabali don come out to talk say dem no dey press any panic button just yet, despite all the wahala wey dey happen. Chilli Boys don already lose three coaches this season. Na wa o!
Sinethemba Badela shift ground because of gree-gree with sporting director Sinesipho Mali, and Musa Nyatama wey no last many matches before dem fire am. Luc Eymael waka enter di hot seat in August, but wetin e bring? More wahala! E no work for am, and dem also show am pepper.
Now, Vusumuzi Vilakazi don take charge and him dey try change di storyline. As Nwabali talk, “You know, I’m the captain, and wetin we dey see na normal football wahala. E no be say e never happen before.” Na true talk o! Sometimes you go start season like movie wey dey make sense, sometimes na horror film you go dey watch.
Nwabali no forget to give fans small hope: “I feel like this campaign no dey good for us, but I dey try give una hope say things go change.” Chilli Boys still get tough matches ahead as dem dey face Soweto giants Orlando Pirates for November 25, and Kaizer Chiefs on December 3. If dem no fit shine before Afcon break, wetin e go mean for dem?
Meanwhile, Nwabali dey with di Nigeria national team as dem prepare for 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs for Rabat, Morocco. Dem go face Gabon today for di semifinal, and di winner go meet either Cameroon or DR Congo for di final on Sunday. E good to sabi say Nwabali get big dreams to carry di team go World Cup after finishing second for Group C qualifiers. “We feel say dis na real second chance for us,” he talk.
He still dey talk about di past matches when dem no collect enough points. “I feel like we pass one, two, or three games without picking up di points we wanted. But as di qualifiers dey reach di end, we dey gel more together.” Di playoffs na big opportunity for dem to also prepare well for Afcon. Na so football dey be – e fit pain you today, tomorrow fit be your day.
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