Former South Africa goalkeeper coach Alex Heredia has expressed his concerns over Kaizer Chiefs’ decision to sign Rwandan national team goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari instead of Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, Sportblog247.com reports.

Nwabali has gained significant recognition in the past six months. He was called up by Coach Jose Peseiro to the national team for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, replacing Francis Uzoho, who had underperformed.

The 28-year-old goalkeeper impressed during the tournament, securing four clean sheets and playing a crucial role in Nigeria’s second-place finish. Nwabali was particularly noteworthy in the semi-final penalty shootout against South Africa, where he made two key saves.

His outstanding performances have attracted interest from clubs in South Africa and abroad, including QPR, Al Ettifaq, Kaizer Chiefs, and Orlando Pirates. Despite this interest, no concrete deals have materialized, and there is uncertainty within Chippa United about Nwabali’s future at the club.

Recently, it was revealed that Kaizer Chiefs are no longer pursuing Nwabali after signing Rwandan goalkeeper Ntwari. This decision has been questioned by Heredia, who believes Nwabali would have been a better choice.

“It’s not easy to play on a big, big stage like Kaizer Chiefs, where even during the training sessions you’re under pressure,” Heredia told Kickoff. “They must not judge him in his first game. They must give him four-five games to see how he reacts. At the moment, he is a good goalkeeper, adding quality to the side.

“For a goalkeeper to perform, he needs a good team. It’s the same with the team. But the Nigerian Nwabali looks more solid compared to the Rwandan because we’ve seen most of his games. I watched him both here in the PSL and at the AFCON, and he’s done quite well. In my opinion, Nigeria would have been a more positive option for Chiefs.”

Currently, Nwabali prefers a move to a reputable club in Europe. However, if no suitable offers arise, he is likely to remain in South Africa.