Sources say the hierarchy of the Premier Soccer League is livid as they are embarrassed by how Chippa Mpengesi, owner of the relegated-threatened Chippa United, seems to be a loose cannon that needs to be kept under check. Talk is rife that Mpengesi, who is known to be a trigger happy boss in firing coaches, needs to be contained to save the league and its sponsors the humiliation that has played itself out in the past few weeks as a result of Mpengesi’s stubborn as a mule attitude towards hiring of coach Luc Eymael. Eymael stands accused of being a racist and the Economic Freedom Fighters in the Eastern Cape, where Chippa is based, said they will not allow an alleged racist to live and work among them and therefore piled pressure of Mpengesi to get rid of Eymael.
While football clubs are private businesses, their affiliation and association to the National Soccer League has caused irreparable damage and it seems an unanimous decision that Chippa’s non-participation in the league, where huge investments have been made, would go a long way in saving the head honchos the shame of constantly damage controlling the mess that is often created by miscalculated and emotional decision making by Mpengesi.
If you ask me what is likely to happen, should that theory play itself out, is that Sekhukhune United who have been quietly going about their business could find itself in the elite ranks should they not take their foot off the pedal as the business end of the GladAfrica Championship winds up.
With that said, what happens to Black Leopards? Trust me, David Thidiela has mastered the art of survival in this game and being part of the PSL executive; he is shrewd and nifty.
It’s well-known who causes the clutter at Leopards, but it certainly isn’t Bra Deza.
The sooner our football has club bosses who don’t manage clubs like social clubs for boozers on Sundays, the better. Mpengesi is certainly not virtuous for our football and the sooner we hear less of him the better.
