Nwabali’s five-month clubless spell explained as agent reveals goalkeeper’s battle with grief

Stanley Nwabali’s agent, Mohammed Lawal, has revealed the emotional struggles that contributed to the Nigeria goalkeeper spending five months without a club before making his return to Chippa United.

The Super Eagles shot-stopper rejoined the South African Premier Soccer League side last week after parting ways with the Chilli Boys in February.

During his time as a free agent, the 30-year-old attracted interest from several clubs, including Tanzanian giants Simba SC and South African heavyweights Kaizer Chiefs, but no deal was completed before he eventually returned to Gqeberha.

Nwabali’s decision to go back to Chippa United attracted mixed reactions from fans, with some questioning why he did not secure a move to a bigger club following his impressive performances for Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and his consistent displays for the national team.

However, Lawal has explained that the goalkeeper’s situation was more complicated than many realised, revealing that Nwabali was dealing with significant personal loss after losing both parents and his grandmother within a short period.

Speaking to ESPN, Lawal said the goalkeeper’s struggles extended beyond football, stressing that players also face personal battles away from the pitch.

“It has been very difficult for Stanley. People don’t always know what is going on with these players. They only see them on the field,” Lawal said.

“They know them as footballers, but they don’t know that they are human beings too. Like everyone else, they go through life’s challenges.”

According to the agent, the passing of Nwabali’s parents placed a huge emotional burden on the goalkeeper as he suddenly became responsible for managing family affairs while trying to maintain his professional career.

“As a professional, he knew he had to keep playing, but it was affecting him. If he continued, he was going to destroy himself because when you’re not in the right mental state, it shows,” he added.

Lawal also revealed that Nwabali’s personality changed during a difficult period, with those close to him noticing that the usually cheerful goalkeeper had become more aggressive on the pitch.

“Stanley used to be lively and always smiling. During the last AFCON and the World Cup qualifiers, he became unusually aggressive. He was shouting at teammates and confronting opponents. But that wasn’t the real Stanley,” he explained.

The agent said Nwabali was advised to step away from football temporarily to protect both his mental well-being and his career.

“We told him, ‘This isn’t you. Take time away before you do permanent damage to your career.’”

Lawal added that Nwabali’s private struggles were not something he owed the public an explanation for, insisting that footballers should also be allowed time to deal with personal challenges away from the spotlight.

“Sometimes you want to appear strong, but inside you’re suffering. These are private matters. He doesn’t owe anyone a detailed explanation about his personal life until he is ready.”

Nwabali will now look to rebuild his career at Chippa United as he prepares for a fresh chapter following a challenging period away from competitive football.