Kaizer Chiefs ‘not panicking’ over Brandon Petersen injury, says Thabo Moloisane

Kaizer Chiefs defender Thabo Moloisane says the club has enough goalkeeping cover to cope with Brandon Petersen’s absence as they seek to remain unbeaten before the FIFA international break.

Petersen suffered a knee injury in training on Tuesday and is expected to be out for four to six weeks. The goalkeeper and club captain had played in every match in the Betway Premiership and MTN8 this season.

His injury comes after he was held responsible for four costly mistakes during the campaign, prompting some outside suggestions that his absence could benefit Chiefs. The team have endured a difficult run of results, being eliminated by Golden Arrows in the MTN8 quarter-finals before drawing with Mamelodi Sundowns, Richards Bay and Polokwane City.

Chiefs will play without Petersen on Sunday afternoon at 3pm, when they visit Golden Arrows at the neutral Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. Moloisane believes Bruce Bvuma and Renaldo Leaner are ready to step in.

“Firstly, well wishes to ‘Beezer’. Hopefully, he gets well soon,” Moloisane said. “I think we have capable goalkeepers. Bruce and Renaldo are there. We are not panicking at all. So, our goal is to make sure the team wins and that we support one another.”

The match gives Chiefs an opportunity to respond to their earlier defeat by Arrows this season. Moloisane believes his side should not have lost that encounter and expects them to be determined to correct that result in Mbombela.

“We are preparing well for them. We lost a game that we shouldn’t have lost,” he said. “It was a game of few chances and minor mistakes. But at the same time, we know that it’s a team that plays with a lot of counter-attacks and runs behind the defence. So, it is something that we have prepared for.”

Golden Arrows chose to move the fixture to Mbombela, also known as the “City of the Rising Sun”, with the venue change made by the home side.

Moloisane does not believe the location will put Chiefs at a disadvantage. He expects the club’s supporters to ensure the team feels at home, despite playing away from their usual surroundings.

“I don’t think it will be a disadvantage for us at all,” Moloisane said. “One thing about us is that we are always at home. It doesn’t matter where we are playing. We have our fans rallying behind us in every match.

“It definitely won’t be an away game for us, and we have to use that to our advantage.”