Kaizer Chiefs head coach Cavin Johnson has explained why goalkeeper Brandon Petersen was not in the squad in their victory over Cape Town Spurs.
Petersen was not in the squad in Amakhosi's 3-2 win over Spurs on Wednesday evening, as they returned to winning ways in the Premiership and got their first win under Johnson.
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Veteran goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was in goal, with Bruce Bvuma named as the substitute shot-stopper.
The former Bidvest Wits goalkeeper has made errors in key moments this season, with the last one coming in Chiefs' previous game before playing against the Urban Warriors, in a 2-1 defeat to Golden Arrows.
Petersen was to blame for the first goal conceded against Abafana Bes'thende after he failed to control the ball in the box from a back pass and allowed Knox Mutizwa to score into an empty net.
Johnson suggested that the club is giving the 29-year-old goalkeeper psychological support.
"Brandon, it's a psychological thing that I do believe every goalkeeper goes through, it could have happened to Khune, it could have happened to Bvuma," Johnson told reporters after the game.
"But we need to protect what belongs to us and sometimes we need to make those decisions in order to protect the player for the future and I just think he'll get stronger and stronger the way we do it," he added.
The Glamour Boys are yet to keep a clean sheet with Khune in goal and for the first time this season won a game with the veteran goalkeeper between the sticks.
The 36-year-old was in goal when Chiefs lost 1-0 to SuperSport United, also when they lost by the same scoreline against Cape Town City, both in the league, and could also not prevent Amakhosi from being knocked out of the Carling Knockout in the first round, after a late goal by AmaZulu, also in a 1-0 loss.
With the Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates up next on Saturday, it remains to be seen if Chiefs will bring Petersen back in goal.
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