Who is the number one goalkeeper at Kaizer Chiefs? The issue appears to be clear as mud, writes Mazola Molefe.

Kaizer Chiefs have rarely had reason to worry about their goalkeeping department. If anything, rivals have often looked on with envy.

From Brian Baloyi and Rowen Fernandez to Emile Baron, Itumeleng Khune and, briefly, the late Arthur Bartman, who arrived at Naturena as emergency cover only to claim the No.1 jersey, Chiefs have traditionally been well stocked between the posts.

Yet speak to supporters today and they will tell you the Soweto giants suddenly look uncertain in an area that once defined their stability.

With Khune advancing in age and injuries beginning to dictate his availability, AmaKhosi were forced into an unavoidable succession plan.

What followed, however, has been a prolonged and often confusing search for a worthy heir.

As things stand, Chiefs have Brandon Petersen, Bruce Bvuma and Fiacre Ntwari on their books, and for a significant period it was difficult to establish who the coaching staff truly trusted as their first choice.

That uncertainty only began to ease earlier this season when Petersen was handed the captain’s armband by co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze, a clear signal that, fitness permitting, he would be the starting goalkeeper.

But with the season still unfolding and decisions looming beyond it, SoccerClub takes a closer look at the state of play between the sticks at Naturena.

BRANDON PETERSEN

AGE: 31
When Petersen arrived from Ajax Cape Town, then-head coach Gavin Hunt was unequivocal: he believed the goalkeeper was the ideal long-term replacement for Khune.

The pair had worked together at Bidvest Wits, and Hunt was convinced Petersen possessed the temperament and technical ability required at a club of Chiefs’ stature.

Hunt, however, never got the opportunity to fully implement that vision, exiting Naturena early amid a run of poor results.

His successor, Stuart Baxter, largely continued along the same trajectory with Petersen, but a series of elementary mistakes soon disrupted his momentum.

The goalkeeper slipped in and out of the starting line-up until the defining moment of his Chiefs career arrived in May last year – the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Petersen’s standout performance played a decisive role in ending Chiefs’ decade-long wait for silverware.

That display restored faith within the technical team and, despite lingering scepticism from sections of the fan base, convinced the club to back him as their first choice heading into the new season.

BRUCE BVUMA

AGE: 30
A product of the Chiefs academy, Bvuma considers Naturena home and, despite entering the final year of his contract, is unlikely to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Throughout his career he has been a reliable understudy, frequently stepping in when form deserted those ahead of him, including Khune, Petersen and Daniel Akpeyi. Yet there has always been a sense that Bvuma exists in a state of limbo.

At times he appears on the brink of cementing the No.1 role for good; at others, merely holding the fort while the club searches for someone else.

Behind the scenes, the perception has long been that Chiefs were intent on finding a definitive successor to Khune, even while Bvuma remained part of the set-up.

Some observers believe he has played under the weight of knowing that one error could cost him his place.

That fragility ultimately spilled over into his international career, contributing to his loss of a Bafana Bafana spot despite being one of Hugo Broos’ early selections.

FIACRE NTWARI

AGE: 26
Chiefs’ decision to recruit Ntwari from TS Galaxy was meant to provide clarity. Reports suggested the club paid around R3 million for the Rwandan international, identifying him as a priority target to finally solve their goalkeeping puzzle.

Petersen had fallen out of favour after costly mistakes, while Bvuma had failed to convince during a 2023–24 campaign that ended with Chiefs missing out on the top eight under Cavin Johnson.

Ntwari arrived with momentum following an impressive debut season at Galaxy and was immediately thrust into the starting line-up.

But as results continued to elude AmaKhosi and cup exits mounted, the goalkeeper became a convenient scapegoat.

By the end of the campaign, he had slipped to third choice.

At the time of writing, Ntwari remains nowhere near the starting line-up, prompting his national team coach Adel Amrouche to publicly suggest Chiefs should release him if they have no intention of using him.

A sale at the end of the season is a realistic possibility, though it will depend on whether Chiefs can recoup a portion of their investment in a player once viewed as a long-term solution, but who, for now, is considered surplus to requirements.