De Sa backs Petersen after goalkeeper comes under fire for ‘fluke’ goal

Former Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Roger De Sa has defended Kaizer Chiefs captain Brandon Petersen, saying one of the goals he conceded against Golden Arrows in the MTN8 was a fortunate mistake rather than a goalkeeping error.

Petersen has faced criticism this season for moving off his goal line too early when opponents deliver balls into the penalty area. However, De Sa believes the scrutiny directed at goalkeepers is often harsher than the treatment given to outfield players.

“The goal he conceded against Golden Arrows in the MTN8 it was a fluke, I don’t think the player meant to shoot from there, he was trying to cross the ball, but that is going to happen once in 100 chances,” De Sa tells KickOff.

“So I don’t really think that one it was a goalkeeping error. Like any other goalkeeper he was expecting a cross. People they just focus on the goals that he’s conceded in those matches against Arrows and Sundowns. They forget the saves and the leadership qualities.”

De Sa, who was announced as Cape Town Spurs coach on Tuesday, said goalkeepers are often judged almost entirely by the goals they allow, even when they have made several important saves during the same match.

He compared that treatment with the way strikers are assessed, arguing that a forward’s successful contributions are usually remembered more readily than an isolated miss.

“But in Petersen’s case he makes 10 saves and let in one goal and everybody remembers only the goal he conceded and not the 10 saves. That’s the problem.”

The former goalkeeper said the margins involved in dealing with crosses and set-pieces were extremely small. A decision that appears to be wrong after the event could instead have earned praise if the goalkeeper had reached the ball a fraction earlier.

“So such things are always going to happen. It’s a quick decision. If he gets there half a second earlier and is able to punch the ball, everybody will praise him. If those balls didn’t go into the net nobody would speak about it. But now the fact that it went in, now everybody has an opinion about it. But that’s a life of a goalkeeper unfortunately. There will always be some criticism. Especially from people who never really played football.”

Petersen’s performances against Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns have therefore attracted particular attention, but De Sa believes the focus should also include the saves and leadership he has provided for Kaizer Chiefs during the season.