Following an altercation between Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Ronaldo Liner and defender Rivon Froesler in Ndola during the 1-0 loss in the CAF Confederation Cup, there was a feeling that this was a symptom of deeper discontent in the dressing room. However, head coach Fernando Da Cruz dismissed the clash, calling it a reaction to the moment.
Captain Inacio Miguel even welcomed the tension between Froesler, one of the most long-serving players in the current Naturena squad, and Liner, a new player in his debut season with Chiefs. Given that Chiefs suffered their fourth consecutive defeat in all tournaments, the escalation of tensions was quite understandable.
Nevertheless, despite the coach downplaying the significance of these conflicts, suspicions of internal instability in the Amakhosi camp resurfaced when Liner was completely excluded from the squad for the first-round match on Friday at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
In Durban, Liner was replaced by Bruce Bwuma, and Brandon Petersen was named to the bench. Bwuma delivered a confident performance, keeping a clean sheet, which helped Amakhosi level the score in the contest with a 1-0 victory thanks to a decisive goal from left-back Bafana Bafana Bradley Cross.
As the aggregate score was tied at 1-1, the game proceeded to a penalty shootout, placing all the pressure on Bwuma in the Chiefs' goal. After Lebogang Maboe missed the first penalty kick, Bwuma managed to save the opponent's first shot, but it was Froesler who missed his attempt, putting Chiefs at risk of continental elimination.
Ultimately, Chiefs lost the penalty shootout 3-1 and were eliminated from the preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
