With goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari seemingly yet to settle in at Kaizer Chiefs, Chippa United shot-stopper Stanley Nwabali, who was the club's target, has confessed his adoration for Amakhosi.
Ntwari is yet to make a case why he is better than the current goalkeepers, particularly Bruce Bvuma and Brandon Petersen, as spotlight is starting to shift to the former TS Galaxy shot-stopper for the team's defensive frailties.
The Glamour Boys had prioritized signing a top goalkeeper during the previous transfer window, to address challenges that were faced by Bvuma and Petersen, with veteran shot-stopper Itumeleng Khune not retained.
Read: Chiefs' Humiliation: Nabi Makes Real Madrid Comparison
The Soweto giants reportedly had Nwabali high on the list of their targets, especially after his impressive showing at the Africa Cup of Nations, where he inspired Nigeria to reach the final.
However, with reports of interest from overseas clubs for the Nigerian goalkeeper, the Chilli Boys reportedly put a price tag of R40 million for the 28-year-old. But after no deal materialized, it is understood Chippa approached Chiefs with a lowered valuation of R10 million.
The Glamour Boys by then had already shifted their focus, as they signed Ntwari for a reported R5,5 million from the Rockets.
As Nwabali somehow finds himself still at Chippa, after he was also linked with clubs in France and Saudi Arabia, the Chilli Boys goalminder has revealed that deep down he wanted to move to Chiefs during the previous transfer window after suggesting that the two clubs could not find each other with regards to a transfer fee.
"I don't feel like it's a hype, because for me I go where the Chairman [says]. Maybe clubs [thought] the chairman was desperate to sell Stanley and come to pay peanuts, that's where the chairman comes in," Nwabali said on Metro FM Sports.
"Even if the club puts a market price there's room to negotiate. You can't expect the player to leave for free or for so much.
Read: Chiefs Change Their Mind On Ntwari?
"To be honest, Kaizer Chiefs is the club I really want to play [for] in South Africa, it's the kind of club I wanted to play [for] with all my heart. I won't say I've been supporting them but this is the club I felt like I wanna play [for]. The Rwanda guy [Ntwari] is doing really well, I won't take that away from him but Kaizer Chiefs was the club among the whole clubs in South Africa I felt like to go to," Nwabali added.
Ntwari has kept only one clean-sheet in seven matches for Chiefs so far this season (prior to Carling Knockout quarter-final against Mamelodi Sundowns).
