Chippa United are struggling to keep hold of one of their top players as two of the biggest clubs in the land are eyeing him. Chippa faces one of the cons of not being in the top echelon of South African football.
The biggest club in the land always poach players from the smaller clubs. It might look or sound harsh, but it’s the way it is. Players will always want a bigger stage to showcase their skills. Playing for the top clubs is a guarantee of more money and exposure.
After sterling outings in the opening two games of the DSTV Premiership in which Ugandan goalkeeper Ismail Watenga kept clean sheets, coach Gavin Hunt has a massive headache.
Hunt, who is at the forefront of a Chippa resurgence, is having to fend off the interest of a top South African club in his goalkeeper.
According to credible reports, Mamelodi Sundowns are keeping an eye on the goalkeeper.
The source revealed that the Soweto giants have issues in their goalkeeping department and see the 26-year-old as a perfect foil. Downs see Watenga as a backup option in solving the goalkeeper issues.
Chippa picked up four points from a maximum of six in the opening two games of the season. They kept clean sheets in both matches against Sekhukhune United and Sundowns.
Watenga has impressed former goalkeeper Vusumzi Yashe with his performance and work rate.
Speaking in an interview, Yashe was full of praises for Watenga.
“From what I understand, Watenga was recommended to Sundowns by his countryman Denis Onyango when he trained with the team last year. That was around the same time when he was being roped into the national team of Uganda and being nurtured to be Onyango’s successor. I think Sundowns had plans to sign the boy already when Pitso (Mosimane) was still the head coach. I am not surprised to hear that Sundowns is monitoring him because he came to Mzansi for Sundowns in the first place at the recommendation of Denis. I think the boy will give Sundowns first preference if he has to leave Chippa, but because Sundowns is strong in their goalkeeping department, I cannot rule out a move to Pirates for him,” said Yashe.