Last week we were treated to a comedy of goalkeeping errors by NWU-Mafikeng goalkeeper Amogelang Maduo. We witnessed a series of schoolboy errors by Maduo, who performed below his standard. Maduo, who misjudged a simple back pass that slowly trickled into the back of the net, conceded six goals. He earned goalkeepers a bad reputation.
But the men between the sticks have raised their hands in Round Two of Varsity Football. I just couldn’t ignore the brilliant work by the last line of defence in the second round of fixtures. First it was Stembiso Zuke of Wits, who was outstanding between the sticks in their first game. He spared his side’s blushes and if it wasn’t for him, Wits would have suffered a humiliating defeat instead of the 2-1 loss against TUT in their first round meeting.
In the second round of fixtures, TUT’s Dumisani Msibi and Wits keeper Brylon Petersen shone in goal. The two goalkeepers deservedly earned the man-of-the match awards for the match-winning saves that they produced for their respective teams. Msibi, who offered to share his R2000 man-of-the-match prize money, was excellent in goal against arch-rivals UP-Tuks.
The former national Under-20 goalkeeper, singlehandedly helped his side bag the three points in their 1-0 victory over Tuks. Msibi was just brilliant as his heroics between the sticks denied the two-time winners from salvaging what would have been a deserved point. Msibi commanded his goal area like a pro and led his defence well. It doesn’t end there. In the other part of Jozi, at Milpark Stadium, Petersen was equally impressive for Wits, earning them a crucial point with his reflexes in the closing stages of their Wits game. UWC were nerve-wracking, but Petersen reacted in the best possible way by keeping the visitors at bay.
If it wasn’t for the shot-stopper, Wits would have been licking their wounds after their goalless draw against UWC. We are anticipating lots of goals in this year’s tournament, but goalkeepers could play a vital role in terms of deciding which team will triumph in this year’s competition.
Yes, strikers score goals and regularly get the praise for that, but it’s the goalkeepers that make them look good. Goalkeepers are often the unsung heroes. A strong defence is the foundation of success for any team looking to win the 2016 edition of Varsity Football. Brent Layman, the UWC first choice goalkeeper, also deserves a mention. He too kept a clean sheet for UWC against Wits and there were moments when he saved them from a possible defeat.
CUT and UJ goalkeepers also kept clean sheets, and they too deserve pats on the back. Damaine van der Walt of UJ made sure that his team did not concede a goal. And so did Zolani Lingunya of CUT. He was solid in goal and kept his team in it. Goalkeepers have done their bit in the second round of matches and they deserve to be praised for their good display. Football fans don’t want to see their team leaking goals, and goalkeepers play a vital part to make sure that doesn’t happen. There will be individual performances by outfield players, but who says that a goalkeeper won’t be voted as the player of the tournament?
In the Premier Soccer League we have seen the likes of Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper and national hero Itumeleng Khune winning the PSL Footballer of the Year in 2013.
Khune is just a goalkeeper but he shone for the biggest football club in the country that year. Look where he is now – off to Brazil to represent the SA at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
So anything is possible in the Varsity Football competition. These players will also have their moment in the sun. I hope to see more great work from the Varsity Football competition in goal.
By Charles Baloyi – Daily Sun and Sunday Sun Sports writer
