Ex-Bafana Goalkeeper Darren Keet Has Joined One Of Canada’s Biggest Sporting Institutions

Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Darren Keet has embarked on an exciting new chapter in his football career after securing a coaching position in Canada, marking a significant transition from professional football to coaching.

The experienced South African shot-stopper has joined Ottawa City Soccer, where he has taken up the position of High Performance and Goalkeeper Lead.

The appointment represents an important milestone for Keet, who recently brought his 18-year professional playing career to an end after establishing himself as one of South Africa’s experienced goalkeepers.

According to Ottawa City Soccer’s official staff directory, Keet is now part of the organisation’s technical team, where his responsibilities include high-performance development and goalkeeper coaching.

His move to Canada comes after an impressive final chapter in South African football, where he played a crucial role in helping Durban City achieve a historic Nedbank Cup triumph during the 2025/26 season.

Keet announced his retirement in May 2026, shortly after Durban City defeated TS Galaxy 2-1 in the Nedbank Cup final at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The veteran goalkeeper described the victory as a special way to conclude his playing career, having previously won the same competition with Bidvest Wits.

He had already made plans to venture into coaching, explaining that he wanted to begin the next stage of his football journey while still enjoying the satisfaction of finishing his playing career on a high note.

Keet’s appointment in Canada also gives him an opportunity to transfer the knowledge and experience he accumulated during nearly two decades of professional football to younger players.

Throughout his playing career, he represented several clubs, including Bidvest Wits, Belgian sides KV Kortrijk and OH Leuven, Cape Umoya United, Cape Town City and Durban City.

His experience in European football, particularly his five-year spell with KV Kortrijk in Belgium, is expected to provide valuable insight into his new responsibilities.

At international level, Keet represented Bafana Bafana on 13 occasions and was part of South Africa’s squad at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

His journey from professional goalkeeper to a high-performance coaching position demonstrates how experienced footballers can remain influential in the sport long after retiring from active competition.

For South African football supporters, Keet’s latest appointment is another encouraging development, as a former Bafana Bafana international takes his experience beyond the country’s borders.

Rather than completely walking away from the game, the former goalkeeper has chosen to contribute to the development of the next generation of footballers.

His new assignment in Canada could therefore mark the beginning of another rewarding chapter in a career that has already taken him across different football environments.

Darren Keet may have retired from playing, but his football journey is far from over.

Source: https://x.com/Soccer_Laduma/status/2118993063817134545?a=IAGZkIpdNEh85XXHOfk&s=19