The recent dismissal of Luc Eymael after just two months in charge has
once again cast a spotlight on Chippa United’s notorious reputation for
having one of the most volatile coaching benches in South African football.
Eymael’s brief tenure, which yielded only one victory and left the club at
the bottom of the Betway Premiership, is merely the latest chapter in a long
history of abrupt coaching changes under Chairman Siviwe Mpengesi.
This 2025/26 season alone has already seen two coaches come and go.
Sinethemba Badela was replaced by Eymael after only one month, who has now
suffered the same fate.
This pattern of short-lived appointments has been a hallmark of the club
since its promotion to the top flight in 2012. A look at some of the
briefest stints reveals a relentless cycle of hiring and firing:
- One-Month Reigns:
- Joel Masutha (Dec 2018 – Jan 2019): Lasted just five games.
- Dan Malesela (Mid-2018): Saw pre-season plans scrapped after a
single month. - Siyabulela Gwambi (Apr – May 2021): Lasted just over a month after
replacing Malesela. - Sinethemba Badela (2025): Dismissed after the first month of the
current season.
- Two-Month Stints:
- Manqoba Mngqithi (2012): The first high-profile casualty, fired just
two months into the club’s debut PSL season. - Daine Klate (2022): Lasted the first two months of the 2022/23
campaign. - Kurt Lentjies (2022): Given only two months after replacing Klate.
- Kosta Papić (2014): Relieved of his duties after two months at the
start of the 2014/15 season. - Luc Eymael (2025): The latest exit after a two-month stay.
- Manqoba Mngqithi (2012): The first high-profile casualty, fired just
This consistent trend has cemented Chippa United’s chairman’s “bad
reputation,” creating an environment of immense pressure where coaches are
given little time to implement their strategies or build a cohesive team.
