| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1996-12-14)14 December 1996 (age 28) | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Orlando Pirates | ||
| Number | 24 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2013-2016 | Bloemfontein Celtic Reserves | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2021 | Bloemfontein Celtic | 30 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Royal AM | 1 | (0) |
| 2022 | Chippa United | 2 | (0) |
| 2022– | Orlando Pirates | 87 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | South Africa | 2 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 26 July 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 September 2024 | |||
Sipho Chaine (born 14 December 1996) is a South Africansoccer player who plays as a goalkeeper forOrlando Pirates in theSouth African Premier Division and theSouth Africa national team.
He was selected as the2024–25 South African Premiership goalkeeper of the season.[1]
Chaine played forBloemfontein Celtic, among others in theDiski Challenge Shield, and was drafted into the senior team.[2] He made his first-tier debut in May 2019 in a 3-1 win against AmaZulu FC, in what would be his only appearance for the season.[3] He would get more minutes in the 2020/2021 season, where he made a total of 15 appearances across all competitions for Bloemfontein Celtic. WhenRoyal AM bought the status of Bloemfontein Celtic, Chaine continued in that team, but barely saw any playing time.[2]
In the summer of 2022, Chaine signed forChippa United. After only two appearances for Chippa United, Chaine was signed in September 2022, on the last day of the transfer window, by major clubOrlando Pirates.[4]
He started as a third choice behindRichard Ofori andSiyabonga Mpontshane, but after the 2022 World Cup break, Chaine was finally able to start his first match for Orlando Pirates. He remained the first choice throughout the season, including the Pirates' victory in the2022–23 Nedbank Cup.[5] At the same time, some claimed that Chaine kept too few clean sheets.[6]
In the 2023–24 season, Chaine emerged as the first-choice goalkeeper, dislodgingRichard Ofori in the process. His heroics in the penalty shootout against Mamelodi Sundowns helped the team win the2023 MTN 8 in October 2023.[7] At the same time, he was injured in the MTN 8 final, and was kept out of playing until February 2024.[8][9] Returning from injury, Chaine helped win the2023–24 Nedbank Cup. At a crucial moment in the cup final, Chaine saved a penalty fromLucas Ribeiro Costa in the early minutes of the game.[10]
In May 2024, a video was released in which Chaine said he would bet on an English soccer match; soccer betting is prohibited for any soccer player. Chaine and Orlando Pirates stated that the video was made in jest.[11]
Chaine's stellar performances for Orlando Pirates earned him a call up to theSouth Africa national team. He made his debut on 10 September 2024 in anAfrica Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan at theJuba Stadium[12]
Individual