Former AFC Leopards Coach Still Stuck in SA Amid Unpaid Salary Drama

Belgian coach Luc Eymael has found himself in a precarious and embarrassing situation, stranded in Gqeberha, South Africa, weeks after being dismissed by DStv Premiership club Chippa United.

The mentor, familiar to Kenyan fans from his brief spell with AFC Leopards, was shown the door at the tumultuous South African club after only a few weeks in charge.

Eymael's dismissal was part of a wider clear-out that also saw his assistant coach Sly Mosala, and technical director Morgan Mammila, axed.

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The 65-year-old’s departure was hardly surprising given the club's reputation. Eymael was already the second head coach to be fired by the club, famously known as the "Chilli Boys," this season alone, following the earlier exit of Sinethemba Badela. However, the aftermath of his dismissal has descended into a contractual nightmare.

"Luc Eymael is still in the Eastern Cape. The club has not yet sorted out the things listed in the agreement when they went their separate ways," revealed a source close to the developing situation as per KickOff.com.

According to insiders, the primary issue is the club's alleged failure to pay outstanding salaries and provide the coach with a flight ticket to return to his home in Belgium. This has left Eymael effectively marooned in the Eastern Cape city, unable to leave.

The financial allegations extend beyond just Eymael. His former colleagues are reportedly facing similar, if not worse, circumstances. The situation for his assistant coach, Sly Mosala, was described as particularly dire.

"Coach Sly Mosala spent some weeks in Gqeberha with no accommodation or salary. I think Morgan Mammila is being owed two months' salary," the source added.

For Kenyan football fans, Eymael's name evokes memories of his 2013 tenure at AFC Leopards. 

His "well-travelled" career has seen him manage clubs across the continent, including stints at Rayon Sports in Rwanda and JS Kairouan in Tunisia. 

In South Africa, he has become a serial club-hopper, also managing Free State Stars, Polokwane City, and Black Leopards.

However, his career has also been dogged by significant controversy.

Eymael has faced accusations of racism and making inflammatory remarks, most notably during his time in Tanzania with Yanga SC, which led to his dismissal and a subsequent ban.

 His reputation for being a divisive figure has often overshadowed his coaching credentials, making his appointments—and subsequent fiery exits—a regular feature in African football news.

This latest episode with Chippa United, a club notorious for its trigger-happy owner Siviwe Mpengesi, adds another chaotic chapter to his career. 

The club's high turnover of coaches is legendary in the South African league, but allegations of failing to pay salaries and leaving former staff stranded mark a new low.

In an attempt to get clarity on the serious allegations, official channels have proven fruitless. 

Both Eymael and his assistant, Mosala, refused to be drawn into a public spat when contacted for comment. They instead referred all questions back to the Chippa United hierarchy, suggesting a tense standoff or potential legal constraints.

Unfortunately, the club itself has maintained a stony silence. Efforts to reach the club's Sporting Director, Sinesipho Mali, to respond to the claims of outstanding salaries and the coach's stranded status were unsuccessful.

According to reports from KickOff.com, Mali "initially asked this website to call him after an hour, on Thursday, to respond on the questions related to the alleged outstanding salaries of their former employees." 

However, subsequent attempts to get hold of him proved fruitless, leaving the allegations unanswered.

The standoff leaves the Belgian coach and his former staff in limbo and as the days tick by, a coach once tasked with saving the club from relegation now finds himself battling to secure his contractual dues and a simple flight home.