Kruger United join Sundowns as PSL clubs with multiple international goalkeepers

Kruger United are one of only two clubs in the Premier Soccer League with more than one goalkeeper away on senior international duty during the current FIFA dates.

The club’s international representatives are Marcel Dandjinou, who is with Benin, and Fiacre Ntwari, who has joined up with Rwanda. The development puts Kruger in the same category as Mamelodi Sundowns.

Dandjinou is involved in Benin’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign and started Friday’s match against Burkina Faso. He is expected to retain his place for Tuesday’s fixture against Mauritania.

The goalkeeper will then travel to Buenos Aires, where he is set to feature in Lionel Messi’s farewell match against Argentina on October 6. The game will be played at Estadio Monumental, the home of River Plate.

Dandjinou has made more appearances for Kruger this season than Ntwari, who is on loan from Kaizer Chiefs. Ntwari played in Rwanda’s 3-1 victory over Liberia on Friday and is expected to start again when they face Cape Verde on Tuesday.

Sundowns are the only other PSL club with multiple goalkeepers away with their national teams.

Ronwen Williams will captain Bafana Bafana against Guinea on Saturday and is also expected to play against Eritrea and Egypt. Ricardos Goss is part of the squad as third-choice goalkeeper, behind Sipho Chaine.

Veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango was in Uganda’s team that earned a valuable point away to Tunisia on Thursday. The 41-year-old is due to play in Uganda’s home match against Libya on Tuesday.

The other PSL clubs with one goalkeeper away on international duty are Orlando Pirates, represented by Sipho Chaine for South Africa; Sekhukhune United, whose Manuel Sapunga is with Equatorial Guinea; Chippa United, with Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali; Siwelele, represented by Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko; and Marumo Gallants, whose Emile Lako is with Cameroon.

The Motsepe Foundation Championship also has two goalkeepers involved in the international window.

Magesi’s Elvis Chipezeze is Zimbabwe’s first-choice goalkeeper, while Highbury’s Kamaijanda Ndisiro is performing the same role for Namibia.