Kaizer Chiefs legend William Shongwe has explained why he attributes Brandon Petersen’s recent struggles to the departure of goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi, insisting the Soweto giants made a major blunder by parting ways with the Tunisian.
After inconsistent performances in recent years, Petersen enjoyed an improved campaign last season in which he managed 18 clean sheets across all competitions. Mzoughi was credited with helping the Amakhosi captain rediscover his form.
The impressive outings between the sticks earned him a place in former Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos’ plans. That saw the former Bidvest Wits goalkeeper making Broos’ preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, the departure of then-Chiefs co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef saw Mzoughi following them through the exit door after two seasons at Naturena. Frenchman Fernando da Cruz arrived with his own backroom staff, including goalkeeper trainer Olivier Sorin.
While Sorin was expected to build on Mzoughi’s work on Petersen, the Chiefs shot-stopper dropped in form. He has managed just one clean sheet in the six games he has featured in this season. The 32-year-old has conceded seven goals.
Costly blunders against Golden Arrows FC and Richards Bay FC have also thrown Petersen into the spotlight, and he has lost the confidence of new Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane. The latter has excluded the Amakhosi custodian from his preliminary squad for the upcoming 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, as well as an international friendly match against Egypt later this month.
KAIZER CHIEFS ERRED IN RELEASING IIYES MZOUGHI, SAYS SHONGWE
In an interview with FARPost, the ex-Eswatini international goalkeeper explains how key it would have been for Chiefs to stick with Mzoughi and let him work under Da Cruz.
“Obviously now people will start looking at the coach [Ilyes Mzoughi] and say maybe he was good for him,” Shongwe told FARPost.
“Yes, without a doubt [Da Cruz should have kept Mzoughi]. I actually thought they were going to keep him. I would have kept him because you can see he has a good relationship with the goalkeepers, and there was a good understanding there.
“It’s a pity, obviously, that he didn’t stay. For sure, Chiefs should have been kept. Keeping him would have been [ideal], unless the new head coach had other ideas. You know, when these coaches come, they want to bring their own staff.”
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