Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has opened up about his unfulfilled ambition to play for South Africa’s renowned Kaizer Chiefs, a dream that remains unrealized despite his dedication to Chippa United in the South African Premier Division.
Currently the first-choice goalkeeper at Chippa United, Nwabali has not hidden his desire to one day wear the Chiefs’ colors.
Speaking to Metro FM, he expressed his deep-seated admiration for the club, which he views as the pinnacle of South African football.
“To be honest, Kaizer Chiefs is definitely one of the clubs I really want to play for. It is the club I want to play for in South Africa, with all my heart,” Nwabali said.
“I won’t say I support them, but it is the club I wanted to play for.”
Nwabali’s candid remarks shed light on a career ambition that nearly materialized following his impressive performances for Nigeria.
His success on the pitch had raised hopes of a move to the Chiefs, particularly after he solidified his role as a key player for Nigeria up to the AFCON finals this year in Côte d’Ivoire.
However, the Chiefs instead opted to sign Rwandan international Fiacre Ntwari, leaving Nwabali’s aspirations to play for the club unfulfilled.
Reflecting on this decision, Nwabali acknowledged Ntwari’s achievements with Chiefs. “I don’t know.
To be completely honest, the Rwandan [Fiacre Ntwari] is doing really well with the club; I wouldn’t take that away from him,” Nwabali remarked.
His gracious response underscores his respect for Ntwari’s contributions while also hinting at the realities of football, where timing and circumstances often shape a player’s career path.
The Nigerian shot-stopper remains focused on his current role with Chippa United but admits that his dream to join Kaizer Chiefs lingers.
Despite interest from other clubs, Nwabali hinted that certain teams are hesitant to make offers, opting instead to monitor his progress after his debut AFCON experience.
“A lot of clubs have come for me,” he explained, “but they are probably not ready to pay me, and they probably look at me and say: ‘it’s just his first AFCON, let’s keep monitoring him.’”
While his journey may not yet include a stint at Kaizer Chiefs, Nwabali’s unwavering professionalism and commitment to his current club reflect his resilience.
