Former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper William “Cool Cat” Shongwe has issued a
stark warning following Fiacre Ntwari’s apparent refusal to be substituted
just before a penalty shootout, suggesting the incident could create serious
problems for the Rwandan keeper.
The controversy unfolded during the Carling Knockout match against
Stellenbosch FC this past Sunday. As Chiefs prepared for the decisive
penalty shootout, coaches moved to substitute Ntwari, but the goalkeeper’s
visible unhappiness led to the team keeping him on the field. Chiefs
ultimately lost the shootout and were eliminated from the competition.
In an exclusive interview with Soccer Laduma, Shongwe strongly criticized
the player’s actions. “When the coaches have decided then you have no right
to refuse,” Shongwe stated. “Let the coaches take the responsibility for
their decisions.” He warned that Ntwari’s behavior could backfire, as
management might question why the technical team initially lacked confidence
in him.
Shongwe, a former Chiefs number one, expressed concern that the incident
could set a “dangerous precedent” if not properly addressed by the club. “If
they have decided then you can’t allow a player to say ‘no’ because all the
players can always tell the coaches ‘I don’t want’,” he added.
The Eswatini-born legend also used the incident to discuss the broader
strategy of penalty shootout preparation. He explained that teams typically
identify their best penalty-saving goalkeeper during pre-match training,
making a last-minute change a risky move.
“The only challenge is if someone is still on the bench… he hasn’t made
his way in,” Shongwe said, noting that a substitute brought on cold often
struggles as “the mind is there but the body is not well-conditioned.”
Despite Ntwari managing to save one penalty during the shootout, his actions
before the kicks have become the main talking point, overshadowing his
performance and the team’s exit from the competition.
