Vusumuzi Vilakazi bets on Sinoxolo Kwayiba revival as Chippa United absorb Stanley Nwabali blow

For Chippa United, the task of rebuilding this season has gone beyond tactics and personnel. 

It has required emotional repair, difficult conversations and an acceptance that stability sometimes arrives through uncomfortable change.

That reality was laid bare by head coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi as he reflected on two defining narratives at the club: the reintegration of Sinoxolo Kwayiba and the departure of first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

Kwayiba’s return to Chippa, after an underwhelming six-month stint at Orlando Pirates, was always going to demand patience. 

The 25-year-old arrived back in Gqeberha carrying the weight of unfulfilled expectations, having managed just four substitute appearances at the Soweto giants.

Vilakazi made it clear that restoring the player’s confidence was as important as restoring his place in the starting line-up.

“He’s a key player, it’s very important to have Kwayiba in our set-up,” Vilakazi said.

“But also, we had to deal with his psychological aspects as well cause remember that he was not playing at Pirates.”

The Chilli Boys coach believes Kwayiba’s value was never in doubt, pointing instead to belief as the missing ingredient. 

Once a Bafana Bafana call-up had seemed a natural progression for the midfielder-forward, driven by goals and form. That pathway, Vilakazi insists, remains open.

“When he was called in the national team, he was called because of scoring goals,” he explained.

“So, I spoke to him and said, ‘this is your chance to go back to the national team and go for the World Cup, you just need to score.’”

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup looming, Vilakazi’s message was deliberately direct. Opportunity, he suggested, still exists for players prepared to respond.

“They identified you before, so they can still call you,” he added.

“He’s a key player for us. Didn’t score today but he’s doing very well. He’s still going to have a super impact.”

While Kwayiba’s story is one of renewal, the same cannot be said for Nwabali’s exit, which has left a noticeable void. 

The Nigerian international, a standout performer at the 2023 and 2025 AFCON tournaments, formally requested to leave the club — a decision confirmed earlier this week.

Vilakazi did not downplay the loss.

“It is definitely a blow for us, looking at how Stanley did in Morocco,” he admitted.

“He’s a super keeper.”

Yet the coach was careful to draw boundaries, stressing that the decision sat beyond his control.

“Obviously with his decisions and whatsoever, I’m not involved in that. It was a discussion between him and chairman,” he said.

In the short term, Chippa will place their trust in Dumisani Msibi, who has deputised in goal since Nwabali’s injury and absence at the start of the year. 

Long term, Vilakazi remains open to strengthening.

“But if there’s a need for us to look another goalkeeper so that the competition can be high, we will do so.”

For now, Chippa’s focus is internal — on rebuilding confidence, redefining roles and ensuring that disruption does not derail progress. 

In Kwayiba’s revival and Nwabali’s departure, Vilakazi is navigating both ends of football’s emotional spectrum, hoping the balance tilts his side forward rather than back.