Brandon Petersen always wears his heart on his sleeve. As such, he believes that he and goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi are a match-made in heaven. Petersen was a popular figure at Kaizer Chiefs last season and played 11 games across all competitions in domestic football.
His season wasn’t without fault, though, as he committed glaring blunders, leading to being dropped as the No 1 for Bruce Bvuma. However, Petersen proved his passion for the team and football from the bench, occasionally barking instructions to his on-field teammates during set-play.
Petersen’s ‘coaching act’ was viewed differently by Chiefs’ fans and discerning observers. Some said he was undermining the coach, while others saw nothing wrong with him.
The 30-year-old’s passion reached fever pitch as he was caught on camera arguing with then coach Cavin Johnson after the Soweto derby loss to Orlando Pirates.
“All in all, that’s what I am as a human being,” said Petersen on the sidelines of the Carling Knockout cup last 16 draw at the Galleria, Sandton, yesterday.
“If I care about something and value it, I put my heart into that certain thing – whether it would be family or my work. I go into it wholeheartedly. For me that’s the passion. In my career, I have always had to fight for my position. That’s what you get. I go into something not half-wholeheartedly, but I go all out.”
Enter Mzoughi. The new goalkeeper has also shown his passion for Amakhosi, including being one of the first people to run half-way the first to celebrate an Amakhosi goal.
Mzoughi’s passion has landed him in hot water as well, getting a yellow card during their 3-1 win over AmaZulu in the Betway Premiership two weeks ago.
“It’s been good. He brings in a lot of different energy. A lot of the people think we are like that because we are both energetic and passionate,” Petersen said.
“It’s always good to work with different types of goalkeeper coaches. Everyone has his own philosophy and style.
“So, this has been something different for us. We have been enjoying it. We have a good working relationship, and the most important thing is that we can see progress.”
Petersen is yet to feature in a competitive game this season due to an injury which has since recovered from, but he’s ready to compete for the No 1 spot.
New goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari has started all three games for Chiefs this season, and was deputised by Bvuma against Marumo Gallants, AmaZulu and Mamelodi Sundowns respectively.
The Rwandan failed to keep a clean sheet in all matches, conceding four goals. But Petersen has reiterated that there’s been positivity all round since the arrival Mzoughi. The latter is one of the three lieutenants which coach Nasreddine Nabi brought with him to the club when he was appointed in winter.
Nabi is under pressure to return to the glory days in the club given that they’ve fallen from grace in recent years, going nine seasons without silverware. Having missed out on the MTN8 due to finishing 10th last season in the league, the discerning Amakhosi fan will be hoping that the team ends their drought in the Carling Knockout cup.
Chiefs were drawn against SuperSport United in the last 16 of the ‘Beer Cup’. A feat that will see the two teams play each other back-to-back in Polokwane later this month.
Carling Knockout Last 16
SuperSport United🔵 vs. Kaizer Chiefs ✌️
The date and venue will be confirmed in due course. #Amakhosi4Life #AlwaysHome #CarlingKnockout pic.twitter.com/KQiIF3BzuL
Petersen is crossing finger that they do not disappoint their fans in the competition, adding that a successful run would go a long way in boosting their season.
“I think it would mean a lot for us as a team. A team of Chiefs’ calibre should be winning trophies. We should be up there and competing for all trophies,” Petersen said.
“Yes, in the past we’ve fallen short for many seasons. I think it’s a good time for us to turn that around. So why not start with the Carling Knockout cup?
“I mean it’s a tournament like any other. So, I think this could be a stepping stone for us to set the tone for the rest of the season.”