Former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper William Shongwe has defended Fiacre Ntwari against criticism over his performances for the club.
Ntwari joined Chiefs from TS Galaxy in the off-season and has been the man preferred between the posts by coach Nasreddine Nabi, playing in all seven games, and during that time, he has kept just one clean sheet.
The Rwandan has conceded 11 goals while his performances in recent matches, especially in the Carling Knockout quarter-final loss to Mamelodi Sundowns, have been questioned but Shongwe feels the goalkeeper is taking blame for problems that are not entirely his.
“All goalkeepers concede goals, take into account six of the goals came from two games [in defeats against Mamelodi Sundowns, 2-1 in the league and 4-0 in the Carling Knockout Cup quarter, finals]. Take out those two games, it changes the picture completely,” Shongwe told FARPost.
Is Fiacre Ntwari blameless for Kaizer Chiefs’ struggles?
“I know the goalkeeper is under pressure and the whole goalkeeping department. Even the previous goalkeepers went through it, that’s why they were changed.
“The goalkeeper doesn’t operate in isolation, when the whole team is not performing well, goalkeepers find themselves in those situations. There are certain days when they [goalkeepers] can do well.
“The players are making mistakes, and that exposes the goalkeepers. He cannot save all the balls that he’s facing.”
Fiacre is competing for the Chiefs No.1 spot with Brandon Petersen, Bruce Bvuma and Bontle Molefe.
