Rwanda national team coach Adel Amrouche has thrown his support behind
goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, following the player’s refusal to be substituted
during a recent Kaizer Chiefs match.
Amrouche clarified that Ntwari’s actions were born from competitive emotion,
not disrespect for his coaches. After closely monitoring the game, Amrouche
spoke with both Ntwari and the Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper coach to understand
the incident.
“He didn’t do it out of disrespect – not towards the coach or anyone. He was
simply in his game, in that moment,” Amrouche explained. “When you’re a
footballer, you have that feeling inside you. He was in that zone.”
The coach highlighted Ntwari’s strong performance—a clean sheet and a
penalty save—as evidence of his focused, competitive mindset. While not
condoning the action, Amrouche appealed for understanding, stating,
“Footballers are human beings – not robots. They act with emotion.”
Demonstrating a united front, Amrouche revealed he personally called the
Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper coach to apologize. The response was professional
and understanding, with the coach assuring Amrouche he had taken the
incident positively.
Amrouche also used the opportunity to praise Ntwari’s professionalism,
noting that he consistently delivers for the Rwandan national team in major
matches despite limited club playing time. He urged everyone to view the
incident in a positive light, focusing on Ntwari’s excellent performance
rather than the momentary conflict.
“Don’t kill your players – support them,” Amrouche concluded. “The coach
handled it well… What matters is that everyone acted with respect.”
