Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has made a candid admission about Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen as the Belgian looks into the future of his team’s goalkeeping department.
The 2017 AFCON-winning coach named 23 men to represent South Africa in back-to-back international friendly matches against Panama. Bafana host the CONCACAF side at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on March 27, before shifting the battlefield to the Cape Town Stadium against the same opponents four days later.
Both teams are preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States of America, Canada and Mexico. Broos trimmed his preliminary squad on Thursday by dropping 15 players to remain with 23, who will do duty against their Central American opponents.
One of the major talking points about Broos’ selection is the goalkeeping department, where Orlando Pirates’ Sipho Chaine was surprisingly excluded. Sekhukhune United goalminder Renaldo Leaner stepped in for Chaine.
Team captain Ronwen Williams and Ricardo Goss remain in the national team.
BROOS MAKES PETERSEN ADMISSION, PLANS FOR POST-WILLIAMS ERA
In the run-up to the 2025 AFCON finals, calls for Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen to be included in the Bafana setup were growing louder. During that time, Chiefs’ defence and goalkeeping area were regarded as arguably the most improved.
Broos has conceded he intended to select Petersen for the upcoming camp, but the Amakhosi shot-stopper recently underwent surgery. The Belgian says he has begun hunting for Williams’ long-term replacement.
“Leaner is with us, but when you also see Brandon Petersen, he was performing very well with Chiefs. It was the same thing, I think, more than a year ago,” said Broos on Thursday after announcing his squad for games against Panama.
“Then suddenly, his performances dropped. We said, ‘no, we don’t take him’. So, I thought I could take him now, but he is injured. But it’s good that you have people to back up those guys who are always there. One day, we shall have to replace them.
“Ronwen cannot play until he is 40. So, we have to look for the future. Maybe those guys like Leaner or Petersen will be Bafana Bafana goalkeepers in future.”
To some, Broos’ planning for the post-Williams era might also spark speculation that the Belgian will remain in his Bafana job after the World Cup.
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