No room at South Africa’s big three for Nwabali – ex-Chippa United goalkeeper warns

Former Chippa United goalkeeper Tshepo Motsoeneng has cast doubt on Stanley Nwabali’s chances of landing a move to one of South Africa’s top clubs, Soccernet.ng reports.

This follows Nwabali's shocking exit from the Eastern Cape side. The ex-shot-stopper believes the Nigerian international has not done enough this season to prove he has outgrown the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Ex-Chippa United keeper questions Nwabali’s exit

Speaking to KickOff, Motsoeneng suggested that Nwabali’s decision to leave Chippa United may have been influenced by expectations of interest from elsewhere, but insisted that the current reality of the PSL’s top clubs makes such a move unlikely.

“I think for Nwabali to terminate at Chippa United, obviously there might be an agent who told him there’s an interest somewhere,” Motsoeneng said. “And knowing Chippa Mpengesi, whom I worked with closely at some point, he doesn’t stand in the way of a player who is not happy at the club anymore.

“I don’t think Nwabali has outgrown the PSL. Chippa is fighting relegation, and for Nwabali he needed to prove at Chippa without reasonable doubt if he had outgrown the PSL. He first needs to be an outstanding goalkeeper in the PSL to outgrow it.”

Motsoeneng also questioned the Super Eagles goalkeeper’s form this season, pointing to a dip in performances after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

“Since this season started, Nwabali’s performance has not been where it should have been. After coming back from AFCON in Morocco, maybe he thought he was going to receive an offer from outside, and that didn’t happen,” he added.

Why Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns have ‘no space’

The former Chippa United keeper went further by analysing the goalkeeping situation at South Africa’s traditional giants, insisting there is no obvious opening for Stanley Nwabali.

“If he is aiming to move to one of the big three, where will he go?” Motsoeneng asked. “At Kaizer Chiefs, you have Brandon Petersen, who is proving this season that he is the right man for the job.

“At Orlando Pirates, you have Sipho Chaine, who is winning trophies and wants to be squeezed into the Bafana Bafana World Cup squad behind Ricardo Goss.

“At Mamelodi Sundowns, you have the country’s number one in Ronwen Williams. Remember, you sign a foreign goalkeeper for him to be number one, but now when you bring him to Sundowns, then what must happen to Ronwen?”

Motsoeneng concluded that all three clubs already have established first-choice goalkeepers with international ambitions, leaving little room for Nwabali at the top end of the PSL.

“They have no space for Nwabali. All three clubs’ first-choice goalkeepers have a chance to go to the World Cup,” he said.

Nwabali recently parted ways with Chippa United and is currently without a club, with his future move still uncertain as speculation continues over his next destination.