Former Kaizer Chiefs left-back Tshepo Masilela has explained why he is not fully sold on the Soweto giants signing former Sekhukhune United FC goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner.
Amakhosi announced, on Monday, the arrival of Leaner as a free agent after leaving Babina Noko. The 28-year-old has been signed by Chiefs after an impressive 2025/26 season which was highlighted by breaking into the Bafana Bafana squad.
He joins other Amakhosi goalkeepers like captain Brandon Petersen, Rwanda number one shot-stopper Fiacre Ntwari, Bontle Molefe and Amajita’s Takalani Mazhamba. With the Chiefs goalkeeping department having improved last season under coach Ilyes Mzoughi, Leaner is expected to further strengthen Amakhosi between the sticks.
There will be more options after the club btiefly faced a crisis last season when Petersen and Ntwari were out after both underwent surgery. Chiefs new goalkeeper coach Olivier Sorin will be hoping to help his goalkeepers remain international players.
This is after Petersen made the Bafana 2026 FIFA World Cup preliminary squad as Mazhamba has graduated into the national Under-23 side. Leaner will be pushing for a return to the South Africa fold while Ntwari as Rwanda’s first choice.
KAIZER CHIEFS STILL THIN ON SECOND-BEST OPTION DESPITE RENALDO LEANER’S ARRIVAL, ACCORDING TO MASILELA
Masilela feels Amakhosi still need a reliable goalkeeper to understudy Petersen as he has reservations about Leaner, Bvuma and Ntwari.
“When it comes to goalkeepers, I would say you do need a number two. The number two that you know that this is my stable number two for the upcoming season,” said Masilela on SoccerBeat.
“If you look at last season, is Bruce the number two at Kaizer Chiefs? I don’t think so. Is Ntwari the number two at Kaizer Chiefs? Meaning are those guys the trusted number two?
“You can be a number two, yes but are you trusted? If something goes wrong, the first choice or Brandon Petersen gets a long-term injury, can we count on you?
“So, that’s the question and I don’t think the past season any of those goalkeepers, Bruce and Ntwari proved or performed to the level where we can say, okay we are sorted with the number two and that’s not a problem with us. We can get a DDC goalkeeper to be the third choice, train with the first team and gain experience.”
MASILELA PREDICTS CHIEFS RELEASING BVUMA OR NTWARI AFTER LEANER ARRIVAL
Ntwari still has two years left on his Amakhosi contract while Bvuma’s future at Naturena appears uncertain. That leaves Masilela predicting that one between the two goalkeepers will be released by the club.
“So, I think they are looking at it as they want a trusted number two, a keeper who they can trust, who they know that is something goes wrong [they can bank on]. Time and again, Brandon has these small injuries, missing two or three games and he is back again,” Masilela went on.
“And if you look again, Kaizer Chiefs qualified for Africa again and it means more games for them. They qualified for the top eight, the MTN8 this coming season and it m,eans more games for Kaizer Chiefs.
“With this signing, I’m looking at that one has to be released. It’s either Bruce or Ntwari. I think one is going to be released. Who is leaving Kaizer Chiefs? I’m not sure bUt I have this strong feeling that one has to leave.”
IS RENALDO LEANER A RELIABLE GOALKEEPER? MASILELA EXPRESSES RESERVATIONS
Masilela is not won over by Chiefs’ move for Leaner and questions the goalkeeper’s value after the player left Sekhukhune as a free agent. He argues that if he is a good goalkeeper, Babina Noko might have tIed him to a new deal and earn some money from his transfer.
“Am I convinced that the new keeper is their best number two or trusted? When you leave Sekhukhune as a free agent and we ask ourselves, ‘Why?’” asks Masilela.
“Why leave as a free agent? If there was an option they could have exercised the option and get to cash in or get some transfer fee from the movement of the player.
“I’m not really convinced. And again when you move from Sekhukhune to Chiefs, it’s a different environment, different pressure, different set-up and the expectations are very high.
“But I’m looking at it as they are still searching for that beat Number two, reliable Number two, someone who is going to be [trusted] in case something happens to Petersen. They are sure that this is our guy.”
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