Bongani Sam’s Kaizer Chiefs career never took off after an awful injury and former coach Nadreddine Nabi’s disinterest after his recovery.
Following months without a club, the 29-year-old went back to his hometown, Gqeberha, with a plan to revive his career at Chippa United.
CHIPPA UNITED TO SIGN BONGANI SAM
The dynamic full-back never really stood a chance. The unfortunate injury and former coach Nabi’s decision not to give him a look-in, the move to Kaizer Chiefs ended before it ever began.
As reported in early October, the former Orlando Pirates defender reappeared in Gqeberha to train with the Chilli Boyz.
According to the latest report from SABC Sport’s leading reporter, Mazola Molefe, Sam is moments away from putting pen to paper. “Bongani Sam is to go back to the Eastern Cape,” Molefe said on SABC. “He has been a free agent since leaving Kaizer Chiefs.
“He tried his luck at TS Galaxy, but a move did not materialise. He is now about to join Chippa United,” he concluded.
PROMISING CAREER BEFORE KAIZER CHIEFS
Sam kicked off his top-flight career at Highlands Park and has since collected 88 appearances as a professional footballer, scoring five goals and providing four assists.
His standout season was in 2018/19 with Bloemfontein Celtic, where he featured in 20 matches and found the net twice. He later managed 10 appearances at the Buccaneers in 2020/21 and 13 outings for Moroka Swallows in 2023/24, adding a goal at each club.
SAM STEPPING INTO A RELEGATION BATTLE
Meanwhile, the mood at Chippa United is tense as the club finds itself deep in a relegation scrap. After parting ways with Sinethemba Badela and Luc Eymael in quick succession, the Chilli Boys have turned to their third coach of the season, Vusumuzi Vilakazi, who recently resigned from Kruger United in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
The Golden Arrows legend hasn’t had the smoothest of starts, suffering a 3-0 home defeat to AmaZulu before settling for a goalless draw against Magesi FC. With just one win, four draws, and seven losses from 12 matches, Chippa sit bottom of the Betway Premiership table, having scored only seven goals and conceded 19.
Still, there’s quiet optimism in Gqeberha. Vilakazi’s reputation for late-season rescues, proven when he steered Richards Bay FC to safety in the final 10 games last season, has given fans a reason to believe he might just pull off another great escape.
Also read: Khanye compares Kaizer Chiefs with Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns