Kaizer Chiefs duo Zitha Kwinika and George Matlou have come out to defend their underfire teammate Brandon Petersen over the recent backlash following his mistake against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Kwinika and Matlou, speaking at the press conference at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday, both said the former Bidvest Wits goalie is a big boy and can handle the fierce heat from the fans following his mistake.
Peterson did not cover himself in glory against Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final second leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium over weekend, being pressed down by Peter Shalulile, who blocked his shot and the ball fell kindly to the Namibian to finish off from an awkward angle, to score the fastest goal in MTN8 history and see Chiefs’ game plan badly tainted.
The former Ajax Cape Town goalie also made a costly mistake in the league match against Downs, allowing the ball to slip through his fingers last month, despite saving multiple attempts to keep his team in the game before Neo Maema’s winner.
“He has confidence,” said Matlou at the press conference at the Moses Mabhida Stadium where they will host Sekhukhune United on Wednesday (19:30).
“If you are going to start listening to people outside, you are going to lose it. As our teammates, we have to support each other and boost him. If we are going to leave him alone, you are not helping him.
“He is a good goalkeeper and he is confident.”
Kwinika said people judge Petersen based on one incident but they forget the saves that he does during the game.
“He is a big boy, he has thick skin,” said Kwinika.
“I trust in him on any given day. [Conceding as he is the last man], that is the funny part about the game we are in.
“If you check how many saves he made in the past games, then it means we can only focus on that.”
But Kwinika also stated what is happening to Petersen is part of playing for a big brand like Kaizer Chiefs – where expectations are incredibly high at all times and people don’t have room for mistakes.
“We understand,” he added.
“But to show that he is capable, he has helped us a lot of times. Even if you can go back to the games against Sundowns, I don’t know how many saves he made and football or life being life, there is always one mistake you make and obviously people will judge you.
“But knowing him and the person that he is, he is ready again and you can put him again he is ready to go.”
