Ex-Kaizer Chiefs star ‘NOT CONVINCED’ with new signing: ‘Why didn’t they cash in on him?’

Kaizer Chiefs have brought in two players ahead of the 2026/27 Premier Soccer League campaign.

The first one was Bafana Bafana international Thabo Moloisane, who came in as a free agent after serving Stellenbosch diligently. His compatriot Renaldo Leaner was also signed by the Soweto giants following his exit from Sekhukhune United upon the expiry of his deal with them.

Amakhosi have further lost Aden McCarthy who was sold to Sabah of Azerbaijan, George Matlou and Happy Mashiane who were released following the end of their contracts as well as striker Tashreeq Morris whose deal with the club was halted.

Former club’s left-back Tshepo Masilela is now weighing up the signing of Leaner and the goalkeeping department.

Chiefs need trusted number two

“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,” Masilela told 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,” he added.

Who is leaving, Ntwari or Bvuma?

“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,” the former defender continued.

“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.”

Leaner, a mistake?

“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?’” Masilela further explained.

“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,” he concluded.