Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has promised to repay Chippa United by staying for at least another two years following club owner, Siviwe Mpengesi’s support during the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Mpengesi caused a stir when he threw his weight behind the goalkeeper ahead of the AFCON semi-finals match between Nigeria and South Africa.
The Eagles went on to win the match 4-2 on penalties with Nwabali walking away with the man of the match award after stopping two penalties in the shootout to inspire Jose Peseiro’s men to the final, where they lost 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast.
The 27-year-old returned to South Africa on Tuesday following his remarkable performance and was greeted by hundreds of Chippa United fans upon his arrival at Port Elizabeth Airport.
While admitting that the support he got was overwhelming, Nwabali said he wished to repay the club by staying, albeit saying it’s unlikely.
“The chairman gave me a lot of reasons to work hard at AFCON. He was sending me a lot of messages, even wishing me well ahead of his own country… that was something I didn’t believe,” the goalkeeper was quoted as saying by sowetanlive, a South African publication.
“I was like, ‘how would this man do this kind of thing’? I really appreciate him and I owe him a lot,” Nwabali said at the Nedbank Cup round of 16 draw at SuperSport Studios in Randburg on Monday.
“A lot of people say, ‘ahh Stanley, you must leave Chippa’, but I wish to work for him for two more years … but I don’t think that wish will come true because he’s likely to receive better offers and leave. He’s a really nice man.”
Despite his brilliant performance at the AFCON, the goalkeeper admitted he was yet to receive any offers amid his meteoric rise.
“I only see offers online. I have never seen any offer on my table,” Nwabali added.
In the midst of his newfound fame, Nwabali insists now is the time for him to double his efforts.
“I am still Stanley. I want to work harder than before now. If I was putting in 100 per cent before, now I have to double that because a lot of people are looking up to me now,” he stated.
The Eagles’ shot-stopper also dismissed rumours he was threatened and told to never to return to SA after Nigeria beat Bafana.
“If there were threats, I wouldn’t be here. There are no threats my man. I think those rumours came from emotional people,” Nwabali said.
In a video shared on Tuesday, he was seen engaging with supporters, taking selfies and participating in singing the club’s anthem.
