Chiefs captain Brandon Petersen responds to Bafana AFCON snub

Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper and captain Brandon Petersen has provided a composed reaction to being left out of the final Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming AFCON tournament, stressing that his priority remains his commitment to the Soweto giants.

Petersen, 31, was initially included in Coach Hugo Broos’s 55-man preliminary squad for AFCON but ultimately failed to make the final cut, with Ronwen Williams, Ricardo Goss, and Sipho Chaine being selected as the three preferred custodians.

The decision comes despite Petersen enjoying one of his finest seasons. He has been a consistent high performer, keeping an impressive nine clean sheets in the Betway Premiership and adding two more in the CAF Confederation Cup. His leadership qualities were also recognised as he was named Chiefs’ captain at the start of the season.

Furthermore, his form earned him the starting goalkeeper spot in the fan-voted Carling All-Star team set to face Orlando Pirates this Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Chiefs Goalie Prioritising Club After AFCON Snub

Addressing the media on Friday in Durban, Petersen maintained that while national duty is an aspiration, his professional focus remains squarely on Naturena.

“Is it bittersweet? No,” Petersen stated on his AFCON omission. “At the end of the day, for me, yes, I want to be in the national team and represent my country. For me personally, my first and most important job is at Kaizer Chiefs. They pay my salary. So that’s where I work.”

Petersen emphasised his pragmatic view on international selection, accepting that it lies outside his direct control.

“I always say that the only thing I can control is my performances at the club. I can’t control whether the coach of the national team picks me or not. That’s his job, you understand? Whether he picks me or not, I can’t complain about that,” he explained.

He concluded by reinforcing his commitment to maintaining his high standards at club level: “But obviously you want to be there as a footballer, that’s your aim. But for me, the main focus is obviously club level to try and be the best I can be.”