Kaizer Chiefs are having a growing goalkeeping dilemma, which begs the question: Is Renaldo Leaner being lined up for more game-time? Ask Mazola Molefe.

There is an interesting subplot developing at Kaizer Chiefs, and it has nothing to do with the attacking department or the latest transfer rumour.

It is happening between the posts. AmaKhosi moved quickly to sign Renaldo Leaner, and the goalkeeper has immediately been installed as the second choice behind captain Brandon Petersen.

That move has significantly changed the goalkeeping pecking order at Naturena.

Bruce Bvuma, who has spent much of his career competing for the No.1 jersey, is now effectively third choice with one year remaining on his contract, while Fiacre Ntwari has been sent out on loan to Kruger United.

For now, Petersen remains the undisputed first choice – and you would think the armband also gives the experienced player a slight edge.

But there is a bigger question sitting behind Leaner’s arrival: are Chiefs simply strengthening their goalkeeping department, or are they also preparing for life after Petersen?

The timing makes that question difficult to ignore. Petersen, like Bvuma, has one year left on his contract, and negotiations over a new deal have been stalling.

Chiefs continue to rate him highly, and coach Fernando Da Cruz has made it clear that he has not lost faith in his captain following several howlers that cost AmaKhosi points early on in the campaign.

“Brandon also made mistakes last season,” Da Cruz acknowledged.

But that was only part of his assessment. “He also made a very good season last season, he got a lot of points for his team.”

And then came the strongest endorsement of Petersen. “He’s our captain so we trust in him.”

Those words matter because Petersen is not just Chiefs’ goalkeeper. He is their leader and that makes his position considerably more complicated than simply deciding who is making the fewest mistakes. It takes a certain amount of guts to drop your captain.

For Da Cruz, there is an additional consideration – goalkeeper’s mistakes are often more visible and more costly than those of
an outfield player. One misplaced pass, one poor decision or error in a crowded penalty area can change the result of a match.

And Chiefs are a club where those moments are magnified.

The Glamour Boys have historically had great goalkeepers in Brian Baloyi, one of the club’s most dependable figures between the posts before Itumeleng Khune eventually took over and became an institution at Naturena.

Khune’s longevity set an incredibly high standard for what Chiefs supporters expect from their No.1 shot stopper.

But since his decline and eventual departure from the first-team picture, the positionhas been more hit and miss. Chiefs have tried different options without finding someone who has truly made the position their own for an extended period.

Petersen has arguably come closest. His performances last season earned him the captaincy and, despite mistakes, the trust of Da Cruz. The coach’s comments suggest he believes the good has outweighed the bad.

But football has a short memory. A goalkeeper can be trusted today and questioned after one costly mistake tomorrow.

That is where Leaner becomes particularly interesting.

Petersen knows him well. In fact, the Chiefs captain revealed that the pair go back to their school days, with Petersen having been Leaner’s head boy.

“I’ve known Renaldo since we were very young. I was his head boy in high school, and we’ve always had a good relationship.”

There is no sense from Petersen that he sees Leaner’s arrival as a threat.

Quite the opposite. “I think he [Leaner] is a good signing for the team.”

He also welcomed the competition. “It’s a great opportunity for him, and for us in the goalkeeping department, it’s good competition.”

And perhaps that is exactly how Chiefs want it to be viewed. Leaner has earned his opportunity after developing through the Ajax Cape Town system and fighting his way into the professional game.

Now he has walked into one of the biggest clubs in the country and immediately finds himself one mistake, injury or loss of form away from potentially being asked to take over.

That is a very different proposition to simply signing a goalkeeper for squad depth.

The question, then, is whether Chiefs see Leaner as Petersen’s understudy or potentially his successor.

There is no indication that the club has already made that decision yet and they clearly still value Petersen, otherwise he would not be captain and Da Cruz would not be publicly defending him.

But the unresolved contract situation adds another layer.

If negotiations continue to stall, Chiefs now have a goalkeeper who can develop behind Petersen while the club assesses its options.

If Petersen renews and continues performing, Leaner provides the competition Chiefs have been lacking. We will know more a few months down the line.