Quick Facts
Biography
Sipho Sibiya Riopel (also known as Siphos Sibya) is a retired South African-Canadian soccer player who is an assistant coach with the Vancouver Whitecaps women's team.
Player
Youth
In 1991, Sibiya, at the time known as Sipho Riopel, played a single season for Seattle Pacific University.
Professional
In 1994, Sibiya began his professional career with the Vancouver 86ers of the American Professional Soccer League. He played four seasons in Vancouver. In 1998, he played a single season with the Montreal Impact of the USISL A-League. In December 1998, he tore his achilles tendon playing indoor soccer. The injury kept him from playing outdoors in 1999. In 1996, Sibiya began playing winter indoor soccer with the expansion Edmonton Drillers of the National Professional Soccer League. Sibiya played all four plus seasons of the team's existence. The Drillers began the 2000–2001 season, but folded after nine games. On December 4, 2001, the Milwaukee Wave selected Subiya in the first round of the dispersal draft. He played three seasons with the Wave. On August 38, 2003, the Wave traded Sibiya and future considerations to the Cleveland Force for Giuliano Oliviero. The Force then traded Sibiya and D.J. Newsom to the St. Louis Steamers for Ato Leone. In June 2004, Sibiya was again part of a complicated three team trade. The Steamers traded Siphiya to the Milwaukee Wave for Joe Reiniger. The Wave then traded Siphiya, Gary DePalma and future considerations to the Cleveland Force in exchange for Lee Edgerton. While this was taking place, Sibiya was playing for the Edmonton Aviators of the USL A-League. On March 29, 2005, the Force traded Sibiya and Joel John Bailey to the Baltimore Blast for Neil Gilbert and Allen Eller. On March 21, 2007, Sibiya signed with the Winnipeg Alliance of the Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League. In 2008, Sibiya became a player-coach for the Saskatoon Accelerators of the Professional Arena Soccer League. In 2009, he became a player-coach with the Prince George Fury of the Professional Arena Soccer League.
National team
Sibiya played for the Canada national beach soccer team which went to the quarterfinals of the 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Coach
Sibiya has held numerous coaching positions, including assistant coach to the 2006 Canada national beach soccer team and head coach of the Saskatoon Accelerators and Prince George Fury. He is an assistant coach with the Vancouver Whitecaps women's team. From September 2009 to November 2011, he served as Technical Director for the Guildford Athletic Club in Surrey, British Columbia.