Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi is a hard worker, full of passion and somebody who calls a spade a spade. And Kaizer Chiefs' goalies know that he is always available when they have a question or a query. He is ‘only a call away’. 

On the field, the Tunisian-Frenchman is serious, it's all about continuously raising the bar for the keepers. However, outside the pitch, he is a fun guy, who will forever have a smile on his face, cracking jokes on a regular basis.

The past season was somewhat tough for the Amakhosi goalies. Fiacre Ntwari started in goal. But after the Rwandan sustained an injury and Brandon Petersen needed surgery on a finger, Bruce Bvuma minded the posts for most of the season.

Bvuma started in 19 league matches, while Ntwari and Petersen kept goal in five each. Chiefs won the Nedbank Cup this season, with Bvuma in goal for four games, while Petersen started in the final.

"It was a tough season, not only for the goalkeepers, but for the whole team," admits Mzoughi, as Amakhosi eventually finished in ninth spot on the league table. "We were unlucky with some injuries and suspensions of our defenders, which affected the goalies in particular, and the team in general.

"Overall, I feel that all our goalkeepers made various excellent saves throughout the season, such as Bruce's magnificent save against Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup semis or Brandon's mature performance in the final. 

A lot of supporters were surprised to suddenly see Petersen in goal in the Nedbank Cup final ahead of Bvuma, who had performed well. "It was indeed a tough decision," explains the goalkeeper coach. "Bruce had a bit of a lingering calf injury. He wasn't 100% fit.

"Brandon was working and training tremendously hard and, despite not having played a competitive match in seven months, I asked him: 'Are you ready to play a game?' He looked at me and answered: "I am ready!" The rest is history.

"Our supporters can be very demanding, and, rightly so, as we are big Club. But I do feel that they were at times too critical of our goalkeepers. We must be realistic and support them. It's important that our fans give our goalies love, irrespective of who is in goal, as we are one family!"

On what the job of goalkeeper means, the 51-year-old coach answers without hesitation: "It's my love, my life!

"I never do things just for money. I would rather sacrifice something, as I love the pitch - it's the only place where I find myself." 

Chiefs' goalkeeper coach started to play soccer from the age of six in Tunisia, where he was born. His position: a defender. It was only much later that he ended up in goal. It happened when his youth side's goalkeeper didn't pitch one day and the coach said: "Ilyes, you will be in goal today." From there on, Mzoughi never left the position between the posts.

A whole journey followed, which took him to Europe, playing for a variety of clubs in France, Germany and Switzerland. He finished his goalkeeping career in Dubai. That's when the then 30-year old moved into goalkeeping coaching, being active mostly in North Africa and the Gulf region. 

Mzoughi was the goalkeeper coach for the Mauritanian national team for four years, when Nasreddine Nabi requested Mzoughi to join him at Kaizer Chiefs for the 2024/2025 season. The two previously worked well together at Dubai FCC. He didn't need to think for too long. 

"Not only our games, but also all our training sessions are recorded," Mzoughi says. "I review those recordings. They give me feedback on how to correct eventual weaknesses I may spot. It also helps me to prepare for the next session. Furthermore, I use video clip cuts from these recordings in my discussions with the goalkeepers to help them reflect and learn. It's all about improving all the time. 

"Our goalkeeping sessions are all scientifically prepared, it's very methodic. On top of this, there are the fitness and tactical aspects. The tactical sessions are prepared after discussions with the head coach, as it depends on what he envisages for a certain game, for example, a high-block or a low-block. Or even a middle-block."

When asked about his directness during the goalkeepers training sessions, Mzoughi laughs aloud: "This is my problem. I am very honest and direct. However, I always say, 'Better one word straight to the face, then ten words behind somebody's back'."

The Tunisian-Frenchman enjoys working for Kaizer Chiefs. "Wherever I am in South Africa, you will find Chief supporters. I love them. They touch my heart. When people ask me where I am from, I answer: 'I am from Khosi Nation!' 

All the goalkeepers now fully understand how Mzoughi works, and they look in excellent form and good spirit. Pre-season has been going well in the Netherlands. The Chiefs squad is camping in a hotel in Apeldoorn. "We are staying in a beautiful place. And the training facilities are also fantastic."

Regarding the pre-season training matches against strong Dutch opponents, Mzoughi comments: "Our first priority is not necessarily the final score. But, of course, we are a big Club. We must defend the badge. We are here as ambassadors of South Africa."

The goalkeeper coach can't wait for the new season to kick-off. "After having won the Nedbank Cup, our supporters will expect more trophies. That's also what we want. 

"And that's why we need the full support of our fans. We need their love, as we love them too. Our unity gives us power!"

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