Legendary former Bafana Bafana midfielder Doctor Khumalo has spoken out about Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen, saying the young shot-stopper deserved to be called up for South Africa’s friendly against Zambia ahead of AFCON. With the continental tournament just over a month away in Morocco, Bafana coach Hugo Broos recently named his squad for the international friendly. Petersen, however, was not included, despite an outstanding season with Chiefs in the Betway Premiership.
Khumalo pointed out that Petersen has been one of the league’s top performers this season, keeping seven clean sheets in the league and emerging as arguably the best goalkeeper in the country. Speaking to Andile Ncube on the DNA podcast, Khumalo expressed his disappointment, saying that selections should be based on current form and performance at club level. He noted that Petersen’s record, particularly the recent run of seven clean sheets before conceding against Orbit College, demonstrated his quality and consistency, making a strong case for his inclusion in the national team.
Khumalo also highlighted the broader issue of deserving players missing out on national call-ups. He referenced other top performers, such as Tshegofatso Mabasa and Bradley Grobler, who have scored crucial goals for their clubs but were similarly overlooked. According to Khumalo, it is ultimately the coach’s responsibility to justify these decisions, but he stressed that Petersen’s current form cannot be ignored.
The Chiefs legend emphasized that while selection debates are part of football, players who consistently perform at a high level deserve recognition. Petersen’s performances, Khumalo argued, warrant consideration ahead of an important AFCON campaign, and leaving him out sends a surprising message given his contribution to Chiefs’ success this season. As the national team prepares for the friendly against Zambia, discussions around Petersen’s exclusion are likely to continue, reflecting his growing reputation and the high standards expected of goalkeepers in South African football
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