Chippa United coach Kwanele Kopo has opened up on how he shockingly got retrenched at SuperSport United having devoted 21 years of service at the club.
During his tenure with the Swanky Boys, Kopo played a significant role in identifying and developing numerous talents, as well as contributing to the establishment of the club’s academy.
Getting an opportunity to spearhead Chippa United marked his first head coaching role in the top-flight of South African football.
Reflecting on his abrupt departure from SuperSport United after over two decades, Kopo was in a state where his heart was seemingly shaken deeply as he revealed that he was “retrenched” as part of the club’s restructuring process.
He expressed that he had never pictured himself in that situation especially given his contributions to the academy’s inception and his extensive tenure at the club.
His SuperSport departure came in 2022 before he went on to spend a year at Pretoria Callies in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
KWANELE KOPO LIFTS LID ON HIS SUPERSPORT UNITED EXIT
“I didn’t leave Supersport, Supersport left me. Supersport decided that they were restructuring,” said Kopo.
“And unfortunately I was amongst the people that, because I was with the youth academy I was amongst the people that got retrenched for lack of a better word.
“So, didn’t really opt to leave Supersport it was a very difficult period for me personally having spent 21 years in the club and having started the academy for that club.
“I never, never thought that I would find myself in that situation but we learn in this football you know.”
Kopo feels clashing with his former side next week will be emotional for him and his assistant coach Thabo September who also departed United in January to join Chippa.
The Eastern Cape-based side will welcome SuperSport on Wednesday, 26 November at 7:30 pm.
KOPO – ‘IT’S EMOTIONAL TO PLAY SUPERSPORT’
“The next game is Supersport United um it will always be emotional playing against Supersport United for both myself and Thabo September,” he added.
“But I think God has given us an opportunity you know, they say when one door closes another one opens. God has given us an opportunity at Chippa United and we will forever be grateful to the Mpengesi family and the chairman for that.
“Now, it’s up to us to with these players to really put our hands up to show what we are capable of doing.”
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