Khune backs Petersen for World Cup selection

FORMER Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs captain Itumeleng Khune didn’t mince words when asked about current Amakhozi skipper Brandon Petersen’s chances of representing South Africa on the biggest stage - the Fifa World Cup.

- SMISO MSOMI

Sharing a changeroom with Petersen a couple of years ago, Khune has seen firsthand how hard work and character can reshape a player's journey.

Petersen's 2025/26 campaign has been nothing short of remarkable.

The Chiefs shotstopper has featured in 20 matches across all competitions, playing 1,800 minutes, and keeping 13 clean sheets while conceding just 11 goals —a testament to his sharp reflexes and growing command of his area.

“It’s a huge responsibility to lead a team, and I'm happy that Petersen has taken his game to a whole different level,” Khune began. “I’m proud to see him doing really well and hopefully he keeps it up.”

What makes Petersen’s rise so compelling isn’t just the volume of games he’s played or the number of clean sheets he’s kept.

It's the context of his form, a goalkeeper who was once on the periphery, sidelined after costly mistakes, has risen to become one of the Betway Premiership's most consistent shot-stoppers.