Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen has opened up about the driving force behind his impressive turnaround, dating back to last season’s Nedbank Cup final.
Amakhosi have struggled with goalkeeping stability since long-time number one Itumeleng Khune began to struggle with age and persistent injuries prior to his departure.
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While Bruce Bvuma was often the man trusted between the posts, inconsistent form occasionally left the defence vulnerable.
Many were surprised when Petersen was handed the gloves for the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates, but he seized the opportunity with a standout performance.
Since then, he hasn’t looked back, cementing his place as a pillar of the Chiefs’ defence this season. Petersen credits this shift to a change in mindset, noting that he stopped trying to fill legendary shoes and focused instead on “running his own race.”
“Obviously, in the beginning, joining Chiefs, it was a big thing for me. And also, if you look at the calibre of goalkeepers that they had donning the Kaizer Chiefs jersey, it’s guys that made it their own, and they have history in it,” Petersen told iDiski Times.
“In the beginning, it was a bit difficult for me, trying to live up to expectations and all of that. I think the moment of realisation for me came when I told myself that, ‘Look, you’re not here to fill someone’s position. You’re not here to step into someone’s shoes. You’re here to run your own race’.
“Things were set out for each and every individual that has donned that jersey before, and they wrote their own history, and for me, it’s important to write my own.
“I don’t want to be remembered as someone who was just standing in for another keeper or someone who donned the jersey before me, but to obviously write my own legacy and the team’s legacy and be part of the history of the club.
“It’s always about the team; it’s not about myself. So, it’s obviously where I can contribute towards the team’s success, and then obviously individual accolades and all of that stuff come afterwards.
“For me, the important thing was that mindset shift of me showing what I’m capable of and not showing that I am able to fill a gap, but I’m able to fill it and also write my own history, and make it my own as well. For me, it’s definitely been a phenomenal season. Been good for me for various reasons.
“It’s a row in the beginning. And I think if you compare to last season, it’s a major confidence booster for us. That set the tempo for the rest of the season, and that put us up where we are today.
“I mean, in the past, I’ve had a lot of injuries that hampered my playing time. So far, the season for me, I would say it’s one of my best seasons I’ve had in my career and probably the best season I’ve had as a Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper. It’s just to continue in that good way, focus on my focus and just make sure I stay consistent.”
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