EXCLUSIVE: Why Chiefs goalie Ntwari finally went under the knife

The reason behind Kaizer Chiefs and Rwanda national team goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari’s sudden surgery due to a shoulder injury has been revealed.

As a result of the setback, Chiefs have been dealt a significant blow as Ntwari is facing a potentially lengthy spell on the sidelines, sidelining him for crucial upcoming fixtures for the club in the domestic and continental stage.

The injury is particularly jarring given the timing, as the club faces a gruelling schedule both domestically and in Africa.

When Did Ntwari Suffer the Injury?

Pan-Africa Football can exclusively confirm that the Rwandan international has been dealing with a recurring shoulder issue for months. A source close to the situation revealed Ntwari had been courageously playing through the pain at national and club level to secure his spot, but the injury recently became too severe to manage.

He is the number one goalie in the Rwanda national team, but has been playing second fiddle to Brandon Petersen at Chiefs this season, with only one appearance to his name.

“He picked up the injury a long while back and was putting his body on the line by playing with it. The time came when it demanded permanent resolution, so he is now fully concentrated on getting back to full fitness,” the insider revealed.

The shot-stopper finally decided to undergo surgery on Tuesday, November 11th, strategically opting for the procedure during the current FIFA international break, hoping to maximise recovery time before the Soweto giants return to action later this month. In addition, the Betway Premiership will be paused for the AFCON tournament in December and January.

Crisis Deepens as Chiefs Face Continental Gauntlet

Ntwari’s absence is a serious blow as the Glamour Boys prepare for the rigorous schedule ahead. Chiefs recently secured their place in the lucrative CAF Confederation Cup group stages after defeating Kabuscorp SCP (Angola) and AS Simba (DR Congo).

In the group stage draw, Amakhosi were pitted into Group D against formidable opposition: Zambian side Zesco United and Egyptian giants Zamalek and Al Masry.

The injury severely tests the club’s goalkeeping depth. With Bontle Molefe also nursing an injury, Chiefs are left relying primarily on Brandon Petersen (the current number one) and Bruce Bvuma to navigate the congested fixture list.

Ntwari Joins Alarming Injury List

Ntwari, who confirmed his successful operation via an Instagram post on Wednesday, sustained the injury during training. His inclusion on the casualty list lengthens an already alarming roster of unavailable players at Naturena.

The club is currently sweating over the fitness of notable stars, including: Paseka Mako, Given Msimango, Ethan Chislett, Rushwin Dortley and Khanyisa Mayo.

While a simple shoulder injury might only sideline a player for 4-6 weeks, a more serious issue, such as rotator cuff repair, could keep the 25-year-old out for 4 to 9 months before seeing significant improvement.

Despite the hurdles, Chiefs remain firmly in the title hunt domestically. They sit third on the Betway Premiership table with 22 points after 11 matches, level with rivals Orlando Pirates and just three points behind league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.