Young keepers would do well to follow Shu-Aib’s lead
GOALKEEPERS walk a fine line every time they enter the football arena. And the performances of the Cape PSL clubs’ two number ones on the opening weekend of the season were a prime example of the fringes within which goalkeepers operate.
Cape Town City’s veteran shot-stopper Shu-Aib Walters was in supreme form as the Capetonians took care of champions Wits in Johannesburg last week – but, for young Ajax Cape Town custodian Brandon Petersen, the Parow-based team’s 1-1 draw with Golden Arrows was a night to forget.
So, as the two sides swing back into league action tonight, they go into their respective games with the goalkeepers in contrasting situations. City host Platinum Stars at Cape Town Stadium (7.30pm kickoff), while Ajax are in KwaZulu-Natal to take on a Maritzburg United side in superb form at the moment (7.30pm kickoff ).
A goalkeeper needs to be at the top of his game for the entire 90 minutes. There is no hiding place. One week the hero, the next the villain. Ask Walters and Petersen…
Not only did the 35-year-old Walters pull off some excellent stops during open play against Wits, he also brilliantly saved a penalty from Malawian Gabadinho Mhango. For his efforts in that wonderful City victory, Walters was named man of the match.
The 22-year-old Petersen, however, was responsible for the blunder that gave Durban-based Arrows the lead, after which, fortunately, Rivaldo Coetzee equalised to spare his teammate’s blushes. Petersen, initially, had done well in anticipating the threat of an Arrows through-ball; he got there to snuff out the danger, but then, instead of hoofing it clear, he decided to pass and the ball hit the opposition’s striker and rolled into the net. It was an embarrassing moment for the young keeper, but, at the same time, a good learning curve too.
Ajax coach Stanley Menzo is certainly holding nothing against his young goalkeeper. In fact, as he readily admits, he knows the feeling.
“It was just unlucky,” said Menzo about the goal Petersen conceded. “I understand the situation – remember that I, too, was a goalkeeper during my playing days. So I won’t criticise, I won’t hammer him for the mistake. It happens in football…”
The good thing about a quick turnaround of fixtures is that there is no time for Petersen to dwell on his error. He can place it in the past, learn from the experience, and endeavour to do well for the team against Maritzburg tonight.
As for Walters, after his fantastic performance against Wits, he also revealed the importance of a goalkeeper doing his homework. Young goalkeepers, making their way in the sport, would do well to heed what Walters said afterwards about his penalty save: With Mhango taking the penalty, he opted to dive to his right – and, as a result, he was able to manufacture the great stop that denied Wits’ Malawian forward. But, as the City keeper admitted in his post-match interview, if Wits’ English striker James Keene had been the man taking the spot-kick, he would have dived to his left.
Walters is frank about how he studies penalty-takers, he remembers which side they prefer to kick, and the information then becomes useful when he has to line up and face whoever is kicking. In essence, the message is, “know your opponent”.