With Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari still finding his footing, Chippa United shot-stopper Stanley Nwabali has revealed that he harbors a strong desire to join Amakhosi. Chiefs initially had their eyes on Nwabali, especially after his impressive performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, where he helped Nigeria reach the final, but ultimately signed Ntwari from TS Galaxy instead.
Ntwari has faced a challenging start since joining Chiefs, with only one clean sheet in his first seven matches.
The spotlight has gradually shifted to his role in Chiefs’ ongoing defensive struggles, as fans question whether he is truly an upgrade from Bruce Bvuma and Brandon Petersen.
Chiefs hoped to find a steady replacement for veteran Itumeleng Khune, who was not retained, and thus prioritized signing a reliable goalkeeper in the previous transfer window.
Initially, Nwabali was high on Chiefs’ target list, but complications in the transfer fee hindered the deal. Chippa United placed a R40 million price tag on the 28-year-old Nigerian, citing interest from overseas clubs, including those in France and Saudi Arabia.
However, after no offers materialized, Chippa reportedly approached Chiefs with a lowered valuation of R10 million. By that time, Chiefs had already signed Ntwari for R5.5 million.
Nwabali recently opened up on Metro FM Sports about his deep-rooted wish to play for Kaizer Chiefs, saying he was keen on a move but acknowledged that the transfer fee was a hurdle.
“I don't feel like it's a hype,” Nwabali explained. “Kaizer Chiefs is the club I really want to play [for] in South Africa. I won't say I've been supporting them, but this is the club I felt like I wanted to join. The Rwanda guy [Ntwari] is doing well; I won't take that away from him. But Chiefs was the club I felt destined to go to.”
The Nigerian goalkeeper also touched on the dynamics behind the deal, suggesting that negotiations could have been better handled.
“Maybe clubs [thought] the chairman was desperate to sell Stanley and came to pay peanuts, and that’s where negotiations fell apart,” he continued.
As Ntwari works to solidify his position at Chiefs, the revelation from Nwabali adds another layer to the club’s search for stability in goal. Chiefs are yet to see consistent defensive results, and with Nwabali’s statement, they may reconsider their options in future transfer windows.
Post a Comment