The quality of goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari compared to other shot-stoppers at Kaizer Chiefs has been questioned after an average start by Amakhosi. KickOff analyzes the situation.
The question on the lips of most Chiefs fans is how long before head coach Nasreddine Nabi makes changes in goal, as already some section of supporters expected a different man between the sticks ahead of the big Carling Knockout quarter-final encounter against Mamelodi Sundowns.
This, after the side lost 1-0 to SuperSport United and were almost embarrassed by Magesi FC, in a 2-2 draw.
READ: Ngezana moves up top at Bafana
The fan base's worst fears were realized against Sundowns after Ntwari let in four goals, though he cannot be solely blamed for conceding all the goals.
The 25-year-old was signed particularly to address the side's shortcomings in goals last season, especially since they were not going to retain Itumeleng Khune.
However, a closer look at the goalkeeping situation at Amakhosi shows that there was not really a keeper crisis last term, as only Khune had a higher losing rate of 80% when in goal, while Bruce Bvuma had 33% and Brandon Petersen 36%.
Bvuma played the most number of games - 17 in the league and one in the Nedbank Cup - and out of all, kept a commendable nine clean sheets.
Petersen was also not that bad when he started the season, as he played 11 games in all competitions and kept four clean sheets.
Perhaps what made the goalkeeping situation look worse was turning towards 37-year-old Khune for help, after they lost four out of five games he started in.
Compared to Ntwari so far, Bvuma and Petersen have a much higher clean sheet rate than the Rwandan, as when the Amakhosi goalkeeper is in goal, they have a 50% chance of keeping a clean sheet, based on his stats for 2023/24.
READ: 'They started swearing' - Saddam on his row with Bucs fan
The former Bidvest Wits net-minder had a 36% clean-sheet record last term, while with the former TS Galaxy shot-stopper in goal so far, Nabi's charges have a 14% chance of keeping a clean sheet.
Khune did not keep any clean sheet in all five games he started for Chiefs last campaign, which took his clean sheet rate to 0% and maybe justifies why he was not retained.