Outspoken Kaizer Chiefs defender Zitha Kwinika has sent a message to his embattled teammate Brandon Petersen, who has been committing costly mistakes.
Petersen committed a howler against Mamelodi Sundowns in an MTN8 second-leg semi-final clash on Saturday at the Locus Moripe Stadium. He gifted Sundowns an early goal after failing to clear his line and he was punished by Peter Shalulile.
Amakhosi were eliminated from the MTN8 last four by Sundowns, losing 3-2 on aggregate. The first leg at FNB Stadium had ended 1-1 and the Tshwane giants won the return leg 2-1. The Brazilians will face Orlando Pirates in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on the 7th of October 2023.
Petersen is seemingly building a bad reputation for committing silly mistakes. In the league against the same opposition, his two blunders saw Sundowns beat Chiefs 2-1.
The first schoolboy error saw the goalie fail to clear the ball away and he later fumbled what looked to be an easy catch as Neo Maema scored.
Petersen has been the first-choice goalkeeper for Chiefs since the start of the 2023/24 season under Molefi Ntseki.
The former Ajax Cape Town goalie has managed to keep Itumeleng Khune, Bruce Bvuma, and Bontle Molefe out of the Chiefs starting line-up.
Petersen has already featured in nine matches in all competitions for Chiefs so far in the new campaign. He has four clean sheets to his name and conceded seven goals.
ZITHA KWINIKA BACKS BRANDON PETERSEN FOR SUCCESS
“I think Petersen is a big boy, he’s got a thick skin. I trust in him any given day,” said Kwinika in Durban.
“The funny part about the game we are in, if you can go back and check how many saves he made in the past games, then it means we can only focus on that. To show that he’s capable, you can go to the game we played against Sundowns and look at how many saves he made.
“And football being football or life in general, there will always be that one mistake you make. And obviously, people will judge you by that.
“But knowing him and the person he is, he’s in it. He is ready again and if we can put him again [in the starting line-up], he’s ready to go.”
The Soweto giants shift their focus to the league action, aiming to bounce from the MTN8 loss against Sundowns.
Chiefs will host Sekhukhune United at Moses Mabhida Stadium in a DStv Premiership encounter on Wednesday. Kickoff is at 19:30.
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