Football Agent Reveals Azola Ntsabo and Darren Johnson’s Unexpected Return to Chippa United as Club Shakes Up Roster for Upcoming Betway Premiership Season

Football agent Ntobatsi Masegela has shed some light on the unexpected return of Azola Ntsabo and Darren Johnson to Chippa United as the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season approaches.

At the end of last season, Chippa United made significant changes by releasing 16 players.

Among those let go were notable names like Luvuyo Memela, Roscoe Petersen, Loydt Kazapua, and, of course, Azola Ntsabo and Darren Johnson.

The club, owned by Chippa Mpengesi, was clearly looking to shake things up after a lackluster 12th-place finish in the previous campaign.

Last season, Chippa United had a mixed performance with eight wins, ten draws, and twelve losses out of 30 matches, ending with just 34 points.

This inconsistent run meant they missed out on a spot in the top eight and the chance to participate in the 2024 MTN8.

Changes in the Technical Team

To address their underwhelming performance, Chippa United has undergone a significant overhaul, including changes to their technical team.

Kwanele Kopo has been appointed as the new head coach, with Thabo September joining him as the assistant coach.

Initially, Kopo and September served as co-coaches after their appointment in January 2024.

They took over from Morgan Mammila, who has since transitioned to a technical director role. Mammila, however, has left Chippa and now coaches Baroka FC in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

The Return of Ntsabo and Johnson

Despite their release, Ntsabo and Johnson are making a return to Chippa United, much to everyone’s surprise.

Ntobatsi Masegela, their agent, has shared that both players are eager to make a strong impact at the club.

“Yes, it’s true that both Azola Ntsabo and Darren Johnson were publicly released, but we had discussions with Chippa United’s management to sort things out,” Masegela told FARPost.

“Everything is now settled, and the players are motivated to show what they can do. Ntsabo is a talented left-back, and Johnson, despite limited playtime, is a skilled goalkeeper. Remember his clean sheet performance against Kaizer Chiefs at Buffalo City Stadium last season.”

Ntsabo made 16 appearances for Chippa last season, while Johnson played three matches, mostly as the third-choice goalkeeper behind Stanley Nwabali and Lloyd Kazapua.