Fiacre Ntwari: Rwanda goalkeeper backed to ‘add value’ after Kaizer Chiefs loan move to Kruger United

Rwanda goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari has been tipped to become a key figure at Kruger United after joining the club on loan from Kaizer Chiefs, with the 24-year-old set to face his parent side when the new league season starts on Saturday.

Ntwari, who left Chiefs earlier this month in search of regular football, has been praised by Kruger United coach Abram Mongoya for his attitude and experience as he looks to re-establish himself for both club and country.

The move comes after a frustrating spell at Chiefs, where Ntwari began brightly by starting the first seven matches of his spell but then featured just once over the following 20 months.

“His intention is to get game time and do well”

Kruger United coach Mongoya says the goalkeeper made the switch with a clear objective of reclaiming his place in the Rwanda national team by playing consistently at club level.

“He came here intentional because firstly he wants to secure his spot in the national team, so his intention is to get game time and do well,” Mongoya told KickOff.com.

The coach emphasised that Ntwari has impressed with his professionalism since arriving at the club.

“So, fortunately a player like that comes in and is sober minded and does not undermine the team.

“One thing that we are grateful for is not undermining the team but giving us his best.

“From what we have seen, he is showing class.

“I think he is the most experienced player that we have in the goalkeeping department.

“He will add good value,” Mongoya added.

Competition from Benin international Dandjinou

At Kruger United, Ntwari will have strong competition for the number one shirt from Benin international Marcel Dandjinou, who is regarded as his country’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Dandjinou is preparing for his debut campaign in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) after spending the last five-and-a-half years in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, South Africa’s second tier.

Although new to the top flight, the 29-year-old is far from inexperienced at international level. He has earned 23 caps for Benin over the past three years and was part of the squad that played at the Africa Cup of Nations finals earlier this year.

Ntwari, by contrast, is heading into his fourth season in the PSL, giving Kruger United’s goalkeeping department a blend of top-flight know-how and international pedigree as they approach the new campaign.

Facing Chiefs in league opener

Ntwari’s loan immediately presents a notable storyline, with Kruger United due to meet Kaizer Chiefs on the opening weekend of the league season.

It will be the first opportunity for the Rwandan to show both his new club and his employers at Naturena how he has responded after a difficult two-year period in which his game time sharply declined following his initial run of starts.

The encounter also offers him another platform to demonstrate the “class” and “value” highlighted by Mongoya, as he attempts to convince both Kruger United and the Rwanda national team that he is ready to resume a central role.