Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze has revealed why goalkeeper Brandon Petersen missed the Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The 31-year-old custodian was a surprise omission from the Amakhosi teamsheet released just before the showdown against their traditional foes. Bruce Bvuma was selected to start, while Rwanda international Fiacre Ntwari was named on the bench as the deputy goalkeeper.
It was Bvuma’s first competitive match this season, having spent the better part of the term as Petersen’s understudy. Interestingly, Bvuma’s last official match before Saturday’s clash was in a Soweto Derby.
He has last guarded goal on May 3, 2025, when Pirates edged Chiefs 2-1 in a Betway Premiership affair. Petersen’s absence might have sparked some panic from some quarters, given how he has been impressive in front of goal this season.
Fifteen clean sheets in 27 appearances across all competitions define Petersen’s season so far. That has also drawn calls for him to be included in the Bafana Bafana squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after missing out on the 2025 AFCON.
However, there has been a blemish in his form recently after he conceded seven goals in Chiefs’ four games before the derby.
WHY DID PETERSEN MISS THE SOWETO DERBY?
“Brandon has been sick, he has been admitted at a hospital, he had surgery two days ago. We wish him a speedy recovery,” said Kaze on SuperSport TV.
There has also been an update on why midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala was absent on Saturday. SuperSport TV commentator Mark Gleeson mentioned that Shabalala was out due to disciplinary issues.
‘PETERSEN BETTER THAN CHAINE’
As reported by FARPost earlier this week, former Chiefs striker Collins Mbesuma issued his verdict that Petersen is the better goalkeeper than his Pirates counterpart Sipho Chaine.
“I go with Petersen,” the former Chiefs striker, Mbesuma, said. He added that the one thing he liked about the Amakhosi goalie was “his arrogance.”
“You can feel him. Even when he was on the bench, the way he communicates with the players inside…he is a leader. In these types of games, you need leadership, especially from the back because the goalkeeper is the one who sees the game properly.”
RELATED STORY: Brandon Petersen opens up on his chances of making Bafana’s final squad