Chippa United head coach Thabo September has admitted his error in fielding goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali despite the player’s request to be rested following the tragic loss of both his parents.

Nwabali, who was a standout performer for Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, lost his father in November and his mother just two months later.

Costly Mistake Against TS Galaxy

Chippa United’s recent 1-0 defeat to TS Galaxy in the Betway Premiership has sparked discussions, with many blaming Nwabali’s error for the decisive goal.

The Nigerian goalkeeper attempted a quick throw to a teammate after making an initial save but instead gifted possession to Damir Sosvic, who capitalized on the mistake.

Despite the costly blunder, coach September has taken full responsibility for the decision to play Nwabali, admitting he should have listened to the goalkeeper’s concerns about his emotional state.

Coach September Takes Responsibility

Speaking after the match, September reflected on his decision and acknowledged the lesson he has learned from the situation.

“A good game from us, we didn’t lose it anywhere,” the gaffer told FARPost. “I think we did everything we wanted to do. But it’s football.

Where we lost it, maybe it’s from the bench. From me, from the coaching side, because my goalkeeper did plead with me that he was not okay today and he wanted to rest.

“He’s going through a lot. Him being the number one goalkeeper, I pushed him and said he must play. Sometimes you must listen. For me as a coach, just growing into that.

So, I’ll take that. From the players, everyone gave 120% performance, so I’m happy about that; they gave it their best.”

September also acknowledged that despite the crucial mistake, Nwabali put in a solid performance overall.

“He didn’t have much to do, maybe towards the end when we made mistakes and when we were chasing the game. But other than that, he did very well.”

Chippa United Shift Focus to Nedbank Cup

With the defeat behind them, Chippa United must now turn their attention to their upcoming clash in the Nedbank Cup Last 16, where they will face Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.

The Chilly Boys will be looking to bounce back and put up a strong performance against one of South Africa’s biggest clubs.