Kaizer Chiefs have been hit with a major injury blow as goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari is set for a potentially lengthy spell on the sidelines, ruling him out of action for a significant number of upcoming games.
This setback for the Glamour Boys could not come at a worse time, as the club faces a congested and demanding schedule following their recent progress in the CAF Confederation Cup. Chiefs successfully navigated the preliminary rounds of the competition, first defeating Angolan side Kabuscorp SCP and subsequently overcoming AS Simba of DR Congo to secure their spot in the lucrative group stages.
Ntwari’s absence will severely test the team’s goalkeeping depth as they prepare for this busy continental campaign alongside domestic fixtures.
The Soweto giants have been pitted against Zambian side Zesco United, two Egyptian clubs, Zamalek and Al Masry, in Group D of the Confederation Cup. In addition, Chiefs are also amongst the chasing teams in the Betway Premiership title after having a promising start to the 2025/26 season.
Amakhosi are sitting third on the league table with 22 points after 11 matches played. They are on the same number of points as second-placed Orlando Pirates, while Mamelodi Sundowns are occupying the top spot with 25 points.
NTWARI JOINS LONG LIST OF KAIZER CHIEFS INJURIES
With Chiefs competing for top honours on the African continent and domestically, they would need the full complement of their squad.
Ntwari, who sustained his injury during training, has added to the long list of injuries at Chiefs. The club is currently sweating over the fitness of notable stars, including Paseka Mako, Given Msimango, Ethan Chislett, Rushwin Dortley, and Khanyisa Mayo.
The Rwandan international underwent successful shoulder surgery, as per his Instagram post on Tuesday, 11 November. While the recovery time for his injury can be complex, information gathered by FARPost suggests that a light shoulder injury could take 4-6 weeks, while rotator cuff repair or shoulder replacement could take 4-9 months for significant improvement and 6-12 months to recover fully.
In his absence, Chiefs have Brandon Petersen and Bruce Bvuma in the goalkeeping position, while Bontle Molefe is also injured.
This season, Ntwari has been the second-choice goalie after Petersen established himself as the club’s number one shot stopper.
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