Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen has opened up on being ignored for the Bafana Bafana squad despite his recent performances. Petersen was initially part of the 55-man Bafana preliminary squad named by coach Hugo Broos ahead of the tournament.
However, the 31-year-old did not make the final squad with Ronwen Williams, Ricardo Goss and Sipho Chaine being the preferred three keepers.
Petersen has been one of the best-performing goalkeepers this season. He has kept an impressive nine clean sheets in the Betway Premiership and two in the CAF Confederation Cup. The former Bidvest Wits goalie has also been the captain of the Soweto giants since the beginning of the season.
He was also voted the main goalkeeper in the Carling All-Star team that will play against Orlando Pirates in the Carling Cup at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
WHAT BRANDON PETERSEN SAID ABOUT BEING IGNORED FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM
“Is it bittersweet? No. At the end of the day, for me, yes, I want to be in the national team and represent my country. For me personally, my first and most important job is at Kaizer Chiefs,” he said.
“They pay my salary. So that’s where I work. I always say that the only thing I can control is my performances at the club. I can’t control whether the coach of the national team picks me or not. That’s his job, you understand? Whether he picks me or not, I can’t complain about that.
“But obviously you want to be there as a footballer, that’s your aim. But for me, the main focus is obviously club level to try and be the best I can be,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Carling Cup match will kick off at 15:00. Fans voted for the All Stars line-up which consists of six Betway Premiership players and five DStv Diski Challenge stars.
RELATED STORY: The day Brandon Petersen came to Luke Fleurs’ rescue at Chiefs