As Chippa United prepares for their highly anticipated clash with Mamelodi Sundowns, the spotlight shone brightly today on two of the club’s most promising young talents during the official pre-match press conference.
Qhamani Gebuve, the Under-18 captain, and Josh Draghoender, recently crowned Player of the Tournament, joined Sporting Director Sinesipho Mali to represent the next generation of Chilli Boys. Their presence follows the team’s recent triumph in the Engen Eastern Cape Provincial Cup, where they lifted the trophy and reaffirmed Chippa United’s dominance in youth development.
Both players spoke passionately about their ambitions and what it means to wear the Chippa United badge. Their energy and humility reflect the club’s renewed focus on nurturing local talent and offering a clear pathway from grassroots to professional football.
Sporting Director Mali used the occasion to reinforce the club’s long-term vision.
“We are actively working on a long-term strategy to integrate local talent into our structures. The goal is to become a club with the highest number of homegrown players from within the Eastern Cape Region—developing stars, not importing them.”
The club’s developmental approach has already started to bear fruit, and Gebuve and Draghoender are seen as key figures in the blueprint for the future.
As anticipation builds for the upcoming fixture against Sundowns, the message from the Chippa camp is clear: the future is bright, the future is local, and the future is Chippa United FC.
