Petersen should be rested and made to fight for his place, says Chiefs great Nhlapo

Kaizer Chiefs legend Zebulon “Sputla” Nhlapo has called on the club’s technical staff to rest captain and goalkeeper Brandon Petersen for several matches, arguing that no player should be guaranteed selection.

Despite appearing to show signs of fatigue and a dip in form, Petersen has continued to start under head coach Fernando da Cruz. Nhlapo said even an experienced goalkeeper such as the former Wits player needed time away from the team to recover and regain his sharpness.

“Petersen may be the captain, but holding the captaincy does not exempt him from the bench. A captain should also compete for their place in the team. You can’t have an underperfoming captain,” said Nhlapo.

The former Chiefs player also questioned why Renaldo Leaner had not been given an opportunity to challenge Petersen since joining the club. He said the coaching staff should give Leaner playing time and allow him to develop through competitive experience.

“As a leader, one must set an example. Petersen has played numerous games for Chiefs, yet he is routinely named in the starting line-up without consideration for his need for rest. It is essential to allow him time to recover.”

Nhlapo stressed that his criticism was not intended to suggest Petersen was an inadequate goalkeeper. He said Petersen had been an important player for Chiefs during the previous season, when the club finished third, but still needed to compete for his position.

“Experiencing different opportunities is important for growth. How can I gain experience if I am not given a chance to participate?

“Experience is gained through play. We are not suggesting that Petersen is a poor goalkeeper; he performed well last season and was instrumental in the team securing third position. However, he must also contend for his place in the team and strive to maintain his position.”

Chiefs’ next league fixture comes against Golden Arrows at Princess Magogo Stadium on Sunday. Golden Arrows previously eliminated Amakhosi from the MTN8 after a costly misjudgement by Petersen.