Chippa United have embarked on a clear-out process and have laid off 10 players ahead of their Premiership fixture against Bloemfontein Celtic at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London on Friday (8pm).
Although the club’s chief operations officer, Lukhanyo Mzinzi, refrained from naming the players, The Herald was informed by a reliable source that former Chippa captain James Owkuosa and long-serving player Buyani Sali are on the list of players exiting the team.
The sweeping changes come after the Chilli Boys’ series of poor results which saw the team finish the first leg of the league season second from bottom on the log table, with 12 points from 15 matches.
Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Thabo Nthethe, who joined the Port Elizabeth-based professional side at the start of the season, is also said to be among the players who have been released.
Other players believed to be on their way out are Botswana duo Thatayaone Kgamanyane and Kabelo Seakanyeng, former Cape Town All Stars midfielder Zaphaniah Mbokoma, Miguel Timm, Jabulani Shongwe, Thato Mokeke and Nkosinathi Mthiyane.
Mzinzi said Chippa were in a serious process of restructuring.
“We are in the process of making sure that we are left with personnel who bring 100% contribution to the club, be it at the management level [or] the players.
“We have entered into negotiations with players we feel are not regulars or those we feel we could do without. We have released some, but we are still in that process of releasing about 10 players,” he said.
“The season starts very early and it closes very early, so we are only left with four months to finish the season.
“We want to plan for next season, but also we want to be responsible to ourselves.
“We want to cut costs where we can.
“We have looked at each and every individual on merit.
“We have looked at how much their contribution to the club was, but more importantly how much their contribution to the first six months of the season was, seeing where we are in the league.
“We have spoken to them one by one and we have made them understand the decision of the club.
“And we wish them very well wherever they are going.”
Mzinzi said he was not at liberty to name the players who would be exiting the team as they were still busy negotiating with their agents.
He said there were players who had already agreed to depart while some were still disputing the decision.
He confirmed the signing of Phetso Maphanga and said other names would be released in due course.
However, National First Division player Celimpilo Ngema, of Uthongathi FC, is also said to have signed with Chippa.