Relationships between players and coaches do fall apart, and it’s no different at Kaizer Chiefs.
Amakhosi may be forced into another big decision when the transfer window opens, and Fiacre Ntwari’s name is right at the centre of it.
The 26-year-old Rwandan international arrived from TS Galaxy in July with high expectations.
Also read: First Amakhosi player to leave in January?
FIACRE NTWARI’S KAIZER CHIEFS FUTURE IN THE AIR
A regular for his national team and one of the standout keepers in the 2023/24 Betway Premiership season, Amakhosi’s gloves were expected to belong to Ntwari.
Sadly, football transfers are unpredictable.
He made five appearances in his first season with Kaizer Chiefs in 2024/25, but most of those outings were marked by shaky defensive displays that did little to help his cause. Soon after, he slipped behind Bruce Bvuma and Brandon Petersen in the pecking order.
As a result, frustration off the field began to build. Ntwari reportedly felt he was not given a fair chance and was a high-profile goalkeeper, especially given his international experience in AFCON tournaments and World Cup qualifiers.
DRAMA IN CAPE TOWN
The breaking point arrived on 5 October at the DHL Stadium during the Carling Knockout last-16 clash against Stellenbosch FC. Ntwari made a surprise start. Co-coach Cedric Kaze explained before kickoff that “it was agreed since the beginning of the season that Fiacre will play the Carling Cup.”
With the game locked at 0-0 s minute before penalties, goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi wanted to replace Ntwari with Bvuma for the shootout. The Rwandan refused to come off, stunning both the bench and the 40,000 fans in the stadium. Kaizer Chiefs went on to lose the shootout, with Ntwari saving one kick while Sage Stephens stopped two for Stellenbosch.
That afternoon seemed to seal his fate. Since then, Ntwari has not featured again, with Bvuma moving up to second choice and academy graduate Naphtali Mokoena promoted to the senior team.
Adding to the noise, Rwanda coach Adel Amrouche told local media he had spoken to Mzoughi about Ntwari’s situation, saying it was important to keep Fiacre in good shape and at that level of competition. He went further, saying that if Amakhosi didn’t plan to play him, they should let him go.
A month earlier, Amrouche had described Ntwari as one of the best goalkeepers in Africa, pointing to his consistency for Rwanda and a standout performance against Nigeria.
Despite being contracted until 2028, with an option to extend, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the relationship between Ntwari and the Kaizer Chiefs technincal is beyond repair. A January loan move, or even an early exit, looks very much on the cards.
