Chippa United have disclosed just how the prospect of Stanley Nwabali leaving had the club strolling at a nervous pace.
Nwabali has been topical in transfer-related talk since the beginning of the year when he excelled at the AFCON finals for Nigeria with several clubs mentioned as being keen.
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Kaizer Chiefs and Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise were mentioned as being interested along with Cadiz from Spain, but the 28-year-old has since signed a three-year deal with improved terms.
"The uncertainty around Stanley during the pre-season has been the worst nightmare for us," Kwanele Kopo tells KickOff.
"Stanley had not been himself at the start of pre-season because of all this talk that there is interest in [from] this club and that club.
"Like any other player, Stanley would like to progress to a higher level, not only in competition but financially as well.
"So, it was a roller-coaster… that uncertainty.
"We were also very nervous about finding a replacement because it was going to be very difficult for us as we felt we wouldn't find the same calibre locally to replace Stanley.
"So, we would have needed to find a foreign goalkeeper and we couldn't do anything with Stanley still around.
"But we spoke to him, and he is committed, and this is represented by him extending his contract.
"He is happy to stay at the club and he wants to play.
"Yes, he still harbours the ambition to progress and, as a club, we also have those hopes for him, but like the chairman [Siviwe Mpengesi] has said, it has to come at the right time with the right terms.
"But it has been a huge sigh of relief because Stanley has done exceptionally well for the club since he joined the club.
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"With him, one could say we have 10 players in Stanley and the others fill up the other position.
"That is the magnitude that he has had at the club single handedly saving Chippa.
"So, his presence helps with the spine of the team," says Kopo.