Snl24 | Chiefs make technical team ‘substitution’

Kaizer Chiefs have been forced into a substitution in their technical team during the FIFA international break.

(Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)

Nasreddine Nabi’s technical team was minus another key member during the FIFA calendar week in the aftermath of assistant coach Fernando Da Cruz’s premature departure.

Da Cruz pulled out of his Chiefs contract to take up another job in Morocco.

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Through the FIFA calendar week, Chiefs have also been minus their goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi.

Mzoughi still holds another contract with FFRIM (Fédération de Football de la Mauritanie) serving as goalkeeper coach.   

During the just-ended September FIFA break, Mauritania played two games, winning 1-0 in Nouakchott against Botswana, before going down 2-0 away in Praia against Cape Verde in Group C of their qualifiers.

The Lions of Chinguetti play Egypt twice in October and Mzoughi is again expected to travel.

In his absence, Chiefs have recalled Aubrey Mathibe back to the first team during the break.

Mathibe has been back at the club for the past two years with his initial appointment having been goalkeeper coach for both the reserve and senior teams.

However, since the departure of Lee Baxter, he then became a permanent member in the senior team working with Rory Minnaar and Rainer Dinkelacker upon his return to Naturena.

Mathibe then took a front seat as he got to sit on the bench on match day, taking charge of what Itumeleng Khune, Bruce Bvuma, Brandon Petersen and Karabo Molefe over the past season.

Unfortunately, with the wave of changes at the club, the 44-year-old was relegated to academy goalkeeper coach and doubles up in the DStv Diski Challenge team.

Also absent from the goalkeeping department during the FIFA week was Rwandan keeper Fiacre Ntwari.

The 24-year-old had top marks in the two draws against Libya and Nigeria.

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Ntwari earned Rwanda a 1-1 draw in Libya and then nullified the Super Eagles attacks in a goalless draw played on Tuesday.

The towering keeper is expected to play as first choice.