Former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper William Shongwe has weighed in on Brandon Petersen’s recent struggles, pinpointing what he believes is the Amakhosi captain’s biggest problem on the pitch.
The Amakhosi goalkeeper has come under fire for the error that saw Chiefs eliminated from the MTN8 by Golden Arrows FC in the 1-0 defeat at FNB Stadium. He was back to make another blunder in the 2-2 draw with Richards Bay FC in a Betway Premiership showdown at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi.
Despite mounting criticism over his recent form, Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz has firmly stood by his captain. Petersen has started five matches for Amakhosi this season, managing just a single clean sheet while conceding five goals.
However, former Chiefs goalkeeper William Shongwe warns that these costly blunders could ultimately freeze Petersen out of national team contention.
That reality is already taking shape, as the shot-stopper was omitted from the latest Bafana Bafana preliminary squad named by new head coach Pitso Mosimane for the upcoming 2027 AFCON qualifiers. Mosimane opted for Ronwen Williams, Sipho Chaine, and Ricardo Goss to lead his goalkeeping department instead.
WILLIAMS SHONGWE UNPACKS THE ROOT OF PETERSEN’S PROBLEMS
In an interview with FARPost, Shongwe has tried to make sense of what is behind Petersen’s erratic performances.
“It’s entirely about Petersen, who obviously is losing concentration. But my main view of Petersen is that he thinks too far ahead,” Shongwe told FARPost. “Look at that goal against Arrows. He was expecting a cross, and he came out a bit too early. A goalkeeper is allowed to steal now and then.
“Sometimes you anticipate things long before they happen. I think that’s one of his biggest problems. Anticipating the next move too much, instead of dealing with the present.
“That comes with experience, thinking I have taken care of a situation. But you are thinking too ahead. Sometimes that’s why, for most goalkeepers, a harmless ball is coming, and you think of stopping it with a side foot.
“Then you take your eyes off the ball because you are already thinking about where you are going to play the ball. Then that ball slips underneath.”
BRANDON PETERSEN’S BAFANA FUTURE ON THE ROPES
The dip in form comes as Petersen kept 18 clean sheets last season and was making his way into the Bafana set-up. He was included in Hugo Broos’ preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as he moved towards making his South Africa debut.
Shongwe warns that now with Pitso Mosimane as the new national team coach, Petersen’s Bafana hopes could be taking a hit.
“Definitely [Petersen’s errors will affect his international career]. You can see his concentration levels are somewhere else,” the former Eswatini goalkeeper went on.
“As I said, he is anticipating too much. These are the things that a goalkeeper can turn around in the blink of an eye.
“All the work he did last season might be ignored, and his name won’t be mentioned whenever people talk about Bafana. In that case, your national team chances will fade. He was coming out well, and the national team is something he should also think about as he tries to address these mistakes. Yes, you are playing to help your club, but also think about what you have built in terms of your international career. ”
SHONGWE SUGGESTS THE SOLUTION TO PETERSEN’S WOES
If the Chiefs goalkeeper continues costing his team games, coach Da Cruz has the likes of Renaldo Leaner, Bruce Bvuma and Takalani Mazhamba as other options in goal. But before it gets to the stage of considering another goalkeeper, Shongwe has suggested ways to help Petersen improve.
“It’s not like it’s the first time it’s happened with Petersen. He got it right last season, and it’s possible for him to make reference to say, ‘Okay, how did I get it right?’ Then go back there and do the things that he did,” added Shongwe.
“A goalkeeper needs to be kept mentally fit. All the other things, like technique and tactics, that the goalkeeper has to apply are not difficult. So, he just needs the coaching staff to continue believing in him and give him a few more games. That’s the only way I see it. He just needs to be given an opportunity to get over this period.
“If, of course, he persists, then that should be a worry. If it persists into the next month and so on, then something might happen because maybe it’s a serious problem.”
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