Ntwari fiasco: Coaches have been undermined and this spells disaster, says ex-Kaizer Chiefs coach

Former Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Farouk Khan believes Amakhosi goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari’s actions in the Carling Knockout Cup defeat to Stellenbosch FC “could spell disaster” at Naturena.

With the penalties looming during the final moments of extra time, Ntwari refused to be substituted despite reserve goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma waiting on the sidelines to come on.

The Rwandan international Ntwari gestured towards co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalid Ben Youssef that he was ready to take his place in goal for the penalties and was not going to leave the field.

The Chiefs brainstrust eventually accepted Ntwari’s decision with Bvuma returning to the dugout.

Ntwari saved the first Stellenbosch FC penalty from Andre de Jongh, but was upstaged by his Stellies counterpart Sage Stephens who saved two penalties to send the Amakhosi crashing out of the Carling Knockout Cup.

“As a player you never refuse to be substituted even if you feel you are playing the game of your life,” Khan posted on X.

“The plan was to bring in Bvuma and that plan should be respected. The coaches have been undermined and this spells disaster.”

Kaze stated in the aftermath that Ntwari’s actions would be dealt with “internally” at the club, which Khan felt Ntwari should have done too if he did not agree with the coach’s actions.

“That is why there are internal processes that need to be followed when one feels he is being treated undermined,” Khan said

“You can’t be showing dissent in public. Respect, teamwork and discipline are important in building long term success.

“Football culture has been a problem at the club, they have been trying to bring back that culture which was build on these principles. Actions like these don’t help the process.”