Nigeria’s number one goalie, Stanley Nwabali quits South African league side, Chippa United, expressing delight at the circumstances that led to his exit
By Patrick Ogboru
The Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali has disclosed why he decided to mutually terminate his contract with South Africa’s Premier Soccer League side Chippa United, stressing that it was a tough decision to take.
Smarting from the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament where he kept his spot as the first choice of Nigeria, and helped the national team achieve the third best placed team at the tournament, he decided to end his four year association with Chippa where he was made captain last season.
Nwabali, it was thought, had options on the table before taking the decision, but he revealed that he had no option when he asked to leave, and hinted at why he took such a weird decision particularly after the closure of the January transfer window.
Speaking in an interview with South Africa radio host Andile Nchube, Nwabali said he took the decision during the AFCON tournament but only made it public after the end of the transfer window.
Nwabali said, “The agreement was accepted yesterday,” he said after the announcement. “But I made this request before we finished our AFCON, so that is like two or three weeks ago.”
Speaking further, he said, “It was a tough decision. It is not a nice feeling but in football you have to make a step forward. It was something I really needed to do.
“There was very good understating between both parties and it was something we both felt was the best.”
On what prompted the decision he remained coy but hinted at his desire to win trophies which wasn’t possible at Chippa United and also he prioritised his happiness.
‘Nothing changed. In football, you wait for the right moment, you really need to enjoy where you are staying.
“Football is something that deals with happiness. Your happiness comes first, Nwabali added.
