Sinethemba Badela has been confirmed as Chippa United’s new head coach. He will take over from Thabo September.
“We are proud to announce the appointment of Mr Sinethemba Badela as the new head coach of Chippa United Football Club ahead of what promises to be a defining 2025/26 season,” Chippa said in a statement on Wednesday.
Badela joins the Chilli Boys after serving as Rulani Mokwena’s assistant coach at Wydad Athletic Club, a Moroccan powerhouse, for a season.
“Coach Badela brings with him international experience, having served as assistant coach at Wydad AC in Morocco, one of the most decorated clubs in African football.
“He now steps into this leadership role with the backing of our club, our supporters, and the province we call home.
“His journey is a testament to what is possible when potential meets opportunity, and we are honoured to give him the platform to lead our club at the highest level.”
First coaching job in the PSL
Badela will coach in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) top flight for the first time, having coached the now-defunct Cape Town All Stars in the Motsepe Foundation Championship and the Mamelodi Sundowns Diski Challenge team.
“This marks his first appointment as a head coach in the premiership — a moment of pride not just for him but for us as a club.
“We have built a reputation for allowing young and emerging coaches to lead, choosing innovation over recycling, and purpose over familiarity.
“Football is evolving, and so are we. As the only PSL club in the Eastern Cape, we carry not just the hopes of our supporters but the weight of regional pride.
“We strive to be more than a club — we are a symbol of possibility, a beacon of hope for footballers and coaches from the province of the Eastern Cape,” Chippa said.
Chippa also confirmed that Badela’s announcement will be followed by additional members of the technical team in due course.
Badela hails from Sterkspruit, a town in the Senqu local municipality, part of the Joe Gqabi district municipality in the Eastern Cape.
