TS Galaxy’s goalkeeper coach Greg Etafia has shed light on why Fiacre Ntwari was new Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi’s must-have signing.
Ntwari landed in South Africa last season, his national team performances sparking The Rockets’ interest. But his path wasn’t instant stardom; he started as a backup.
Etafia, once a Moroka Swallows shot-stopper himself, has shared the inside story of how Ntwari, under his guidance, became the goalkeeper Nabi couldn’t do without.
In Nabi’s system, goalkeepers are not just shot-stoppers but active participants in the team’s possession game. He drills them to seamlessly integrate with outfield players, using short passes to build attacks from the back. This unique approach to goalkeeping has become a signature of his coaching style.
The Tunisian mentor’s emphasis on goalkeeper distribution is reflected in the impressive passing statistics of Djigui Diarra and El Mehdi Benabid, who topped the charts in Tanzania and Morocco during his time at Young Africans and AS FAR Rabat. Diarra’s exceptional passing accuracy even rivals that of outfield players in East Africa.
WHAT GREG ETAFIA SAID ABOUT NASREDDINE NABI’S NEW GOALKEEPER FIACRE NTWARI
According to Etafia, Ntwari embraced the sweeper-keeper role at Galaxy, showcasing his ability to read the game and swiftly intervene outside his box to nullify threats and support the defenders.
“[Ntwari] is top, top. For me, he can play in Europe; he has good foot,” Etafia told FARPost. Etafia praises Ntwari’s versatility, comparing his playing style at Galaxy to that of a centre-back, a quality that makes him a perfect fit for Nabi’s tactical system. “He was our centre-back when we played most of our games.”
The Rockets mentor asserts that “a quality goalkeeper can make all the difference,” emphasising how a dependable presence between the posts can significantly impact a team’s performance.
“When your defence is stable, including the goalkeeper, your team is half done,” he said. He added that all credit must go to Galaxy head coach Sead Ramovic, who “gave an opportunity for Fiacre to play”.
Ntwari’s arrival at Kaizer Chiefs has been met with excitement from fans, who are eager to see him in action. The Rwandan international is expected to compete for the starting position with Brandon Petersen and Bruce Bvuma, adding depth and healthy competition to the goalkeeping department.
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