Chippa must not be distracted by pay dispute saga

Chippa United must not allow themselves to become distracted by a pay dispute saga which has reared its head at the worst possible time for the embattled club.

It emerged last week that Chippa had been slapped with an enforced transfer ban by Fifa for three consecutive windows because of a pay dispute with former head coach Luc Eymael.

The international football mother body issued Chippa with a 45-day window to pay Eymael an estimated R250,000 plus 5% interest annually.

A deadline they missed which triggered the ban.

Chippa moved quickly to downplay the dispute, saying it was an ongoing administrative matter and was being addressed in good spirit between the club and Eymael.

Chippa United have been slapped with an enforced transfer ban by Fifa, but head coach Vusi Vilakazi appears undeterred, saying it will not affect his shaping of the club. Fifa sent communication to the Eastern Cape club last week forbidding the Chilli Boys to register new players for the coming season unless the club pays outstanding remuneration to its former head coach, Luc Eymael. The football mother body had previously given Chippa a 45-day window to pay Eymael R250,000. The result is that Chippa have been banned from signing players for three consecutive windows or until the money is paid to Eymael. The next transfer window opens in August. Chippa are currently just above the relegation bubble and fighting to prolong their stay in the Betway Premiership. But Vilakazi believes he has enough experienced personnel in his arsenal to carry him through this season and that he can continue with the same players next season if necessary. “Nobody has spoken to me about that [the ban] ... even the chair [Siviwe Mpengesi] hasn’t yet,” Vilakazi said after Saturday’s game against Polokwane City. “But, ban or no ban, I’m happy with the players that I have now.” Belgian Eymael exited Chippa in October 2025 after a lacklustre set of results and was replaced by Vilakazi. He wrote to Fifa in 2025 complaining that the club owed him a settlement. In December, Fifa acknowledged Eymael’s requests and told Chippa to pay the ex-mentor within 45 days. But the club did not do so, according to a letter sent back to Fifa by Eymael’s legal counsel, dated April 6. On receipt of that letter, Fifa’s head of discipline, Americo Espallargus, put the mandatory ban on Chippa in a missive issued on April 8. Safa was copied on the correspondence. “... it appears that, despite the decision, Chippa United FC [the respondent] has not yet complied with its financial obligations towards Luc Nico Eymael,” Fifa said in the letter sent to Chippa. “In this regard, we wish to inform the parties that a ban from registering new players internationally and nationally has been implemented by Fifa on the respondent. “The registration ban will remain active until the amount due is paid and for a maximum duration of up to three entire and consecutive registration periods. “Lastly, the South African Football Association is requested to immediately implement on the respondent a ban from registering new players at national level, if not done yet,” the letter concluded. In a statement on Monday, the club said: “We would like to clarify that this is an ongoing administrative matter, currently being addressed in good spirit between the club and Mr Luc Nico Eymael. “There remains a positive and professional understanding between both parties as efforts continue to bring the matter to a close.” The statement said the amount was closer to R200,000. “The outstanding amount is approximately R200,000, and the club has been granted until the next registration window period in August to settle the matter. “This process is being managed accordingly and will be settled as we plan for the following season,” the statement concluded. Other PSL clubs banned for different reasons are Golden Arrows and TS Galaxy. It is not the first time Chippa has been handed a transfer ban from Fifa. Football publication FarPost wrote in 2024 that the club had been banned from registering new players after a dispute with defender Abdi Banda. The ban was later lifted. Chippa have five games remaining in the league and their next match is against AmaZulu at the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban on April 25. Click here to join the Daily Dispatch’s WhatsApp channel and get the latest news delivered straight to your phone. Daily Dispatch

They said there was a positive and professional understanding between both parties, with efforts being made to bring the matter to a close.

The statement said the amount in question was closer to R200,000.

While this messy saga plays out, relegation-threatened Chippa have five games remaining in the league, and their next match is against AmaZulu at the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban on April 25.

They are currently in 13th place on the log and could become embroiled in a relegation battle if results do not go their way in the final weeks of the season.

Gqeberha-born Chippa United defender Bongani Sam is optimistic that the club will survive to see another season in the Betway Premiership. The Chilli Boys are still to face AmaZulu, Sekhukhune United, TS Galaxy, Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs in their remaining league matches. Following a disappointing 4-1 loss to league contenders and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Chippa rallied to defeat Siwelele 1-0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. But they were held to a 1-1 draw by Polokwane City in their most recent league match at the Buffalo Stadium in KuGompo City. They are 13th on the log, having collected 24 points from 25 matches and only seven points clear of automatic relegation and five points from the playoffs. However, such is the congestion on the log that they can still finish in the top eight as they are only five points away from that bracket. Former Orlando Pirates and Amakhosi leftback Sam said they are remaining in the moment as they approach the business end. “The team will survive this season, to be honest,” Sam said. “However, we do not want to concentrate too much on the games that we have not yet played; instead we are taking each game as it comes. I believe our focus has returned to wanting to win games and accomplish our goals as Chippa United this season “After this break, we are aware that we are playing AmaZulu, so we are currently concentrating on that game.” After the arrival of coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi, the Chilli Boys went on a seven-match unbeaten run. But the team reverted to its inconsistent league performance. “I believe we took our foot off the pedal a little bit because we were winning games on a regular basis. After a while we became comfortable and lost points that we could have won if it wasn’t for complacency. “But now I believe our focus has returned to wanting to win games and accomplish our goals as Chippa United this season.” Sam, 28, left Chiefs to join Chippa as a free transfer at the beginning of the season. Since joining the team the left-back has appeared in five league games for the Gqeberha team. The Chilli Boys play AmaZulu at the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban on April 25 (3pm). Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

Chippa head coach Vusi Vilakazi has put a brave face on the impasse, saying it will not affect his shaping of the club.

An optimistic Vilakazi believes he has enough experienced personnel in his arsenal to carry him through this season and that he can continue with the same players next season if necessary.

At the time, he said nobody had spoken to him about the ban and that he was going about his business to keep the club afloat.

Belgian Eymael left Chippa in October 2025 after a poor run of results and was replaced by Vilakazi.

This pay row is not a good look for a club who in the past have attracted controversy with their frequent hiring and firing of coaches.

At this crucial stage of the season, Chippa must keep their eye on the ball as they fight for survival.

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