Ex-Chiefs, Pirates shot-stopper paints grim picture of goalkeeping crisis
Former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo has painted a grim picture of the country’s goalkeeping crisis.
Khuzwayo is worried that a few South African goalkeepers are number one at their respective clubs, as foreigners are in the driving seat. Therefore, when it comes to Bafana Bafana, there is a limited choice to select from, as many goalies will be lacking game time, form and match fitness.
“The whole country is in a big crisis. That being said, after Ronwen Williams, who do we have? Bruce Bvuma is not number one at Kaizer Chiefs. Veli Mothwa is number one at AmaZulu, but he’s old. So who do we have after? Is goalkeeping in South Africa not taken seriously?” Khuzwayo told MSW.
Khuzwayo’s remarks come at a time when Williams is on the verge of joining Mamelodi Sundowns, who have two foreign goalkeepers at the top of the club’s goalkeeping pecking order. Fears are that if Williams plays second fiddle to the experienced Onyango, it will affect the national team.
“In the past, we used to fight for the position and made it fashionable with the likes of Brian Baloyi, Itumeleng Khune and Senzo Meyiwa. We need a pool of players we can choose from if Veli [Mothwa] and [Ronwen] Williams are not there.”
“Teams bottle these players because of finances, but any player decides who they want to join. Ricardo Goss is at Sundowns, but he is not playing. Riyaad Pieterse is top; we saw his calibre when he was at Chiefs, but he is not playing also.”
The 32-year-old further revealed his worry that foreign goalies seem to be taking over at the DStv Premiership.
“Pirates has a foreigner [Richard Ofori], at Kaizer Chiefs Daniel Akpeyi was number one, and at Mamelodi Sundowns, they have Dennis Onyango and Kennedy Mweene. That’s something we should have a serious conversation about,” he concluded.
Relating Khuzwayo’s concerns, according to 2021/22 DStv Premiership goalkeeper stats, 10 out of 16 foreign keepers were preferred as the first choices by their respective teams.
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