Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen has written his name into the club’s history books by equalling a record set almost half a century ago – and none other than the man who first achieved it has hailed his rise.
Petersen has started all five matches of Amakhosi’s unbeaten run at the beginning of the season, helping Nasredine Nabi’s side to four wins and one draw.
Read: Petersen Powers Chiefs’ Unbreakable Wall
Remarkably, Chiefs have yet to concede a goal, with Petersen keeping five consecutive clean sheets – a feat last achieved in 1979 by the legendary Banks Setlhodi.
Speaking exclusively to Soccer Laduma, Setlhodi reflected on Petersen’s journey and the significance of his achievement.
“I believe the will, the hunger, wasn’t there at the time [when Petersen first started at Chiefs]. Chiefs were also struggling, and unfortunately, he arrived at the wrong moment,” Setlhodi said.
“When a team is not doing well, what it really needs is a strong goalkeeper – someone who can lift the morale of the players, raise the spirit of the team, and bring stability. But back then, he wasn’t quite at that level yet,” added the legend.
According to Setlhodi, that has now changed.
“Now, things are different. The team is improving, and he has grown into a leader. He’s become the commander of the team. I saw him recently, organising the backline and even directing the players in attack. I thought to myself, ‘This is the goalkeeper in the shape of a King now.’ That’s exactly what the team needed – a keeper who can champion the team on the pitch.”
Setlhodi, who stood between the posts during one of Chiefs’ golden eras, believes Petersen’s transformation is the result of hard work and self-belief.
“For me, I think he made a conscious decision to own that position. If you look back at some of the mistakes he made when he first started, you can see how he’s learned from them. Some of those errors actually reminded me of my own early experiences as a goalkeeper. But he’s grown from that. He’s in a new space now, a new league in his career, and he has established himself.”
While celebrating Petersen’s record, Setlhodi stressed the importance of consistency in ensuring that the goalkeeper cements his place among the best.
“Right now, he’s on top. He’s performing well, and the team is benefiting from that. What’s important now is consistency. A good goalkeeper has to deliver throughout the season – that’s what separates the best.”
Read – Insiders: Could Riveiro Return To The PSL Now?
Setlhodi also offered a glimpse into his own journey of inspiration.
“I became the keeper I was because I once saw a great goalkeeper win the World Cup. That inspired me. I told myself, ‘If he can do it, why can’t I?’ And I went on to achieve that. When a goalkeeper is doing well, nothing can go wrong for the team. His saves lift the players. Something as big as saving a penalty can completely shift the momentum. It can energise the whole stadium, give hope to the fans, and even inspire those close to you, like your family,” concluded Setlhodi.
Chiefs will hope Petersen can go one better and make history outright when they take on Sekhukhune United after the international break, with top spot in the Betway Premiership on the line.
