Following a tough Soweto Derby and a narrow loss to Richards Bay, the spotlight is on the Amakhosi keeper Bruce Bvuma. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Bruce Bvuma has what it takes to be Kaizer Chiefs’ No 1, but such is his inconsistency, limited game-time and the team’s downward spiral this year, that it is unsurprising he has taken the majority of the flak in the last two games.
A recent protégé of Chiefs’ goalkeeping academy – which produced some of the finest shot-stoppers in the country, such as Itumeleng Khune – Bvuma was expected to reach dizzying heights.
He showed flashes of meeting those expectations last season, helping the team reach the Nedbank Cup final. That promise was short-lived, however, with the team’s porous defence and blunt attacking department letting him down then and now.
Enter Brandon Petersen. “Beezer” played in the Cup final last season, helping Chiefs end a 10-year barren run. His exploits then, and during pre-season, earned him the No 1 spot – and eventually the captaincy – this season.
Petersen took the responsibility in his stride, keeping 11 clean sheets in 15 league games for Chiefs before a medical condition forced him to undergo surgery, which may have prematurely ended his season.
Bvuma replaced Petersen for his first game of the campaign in the gruelling Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates. To say he had a poor day at the office would be an understatement. He conceded three goals as Chiefs lost 3-0, heavily denting their title hopes.
The 30-year-old also conceded in the 1-0 defeat to Richards Bay away from home in the last game, mounting pressure on both him and the team. That is why former Chiefs goalkeeper William Shongwe is not surprised by his difficult start.
“I am not surprised that he’s struggling,” Shongwe added.
“Yes, he’s training but game-time is something else. He’s in that shaky period of his return to regular action. So it is a concern, of course. And he’s taking the flak for all of it.
“The team is not performing well as well. The timing of it all has put the team into disarray. I am trying to be positive by saying a third game should be better for him.”
Having been promoted nearly a decade ago and spent years as an understudy to Khune, Shongwe also weighed in on why Bvuma has not yet cemented himself as the club’s No 1.
“What I can agree on is that every time he’s been given a chance he hasn’t risen to the occasion and stamped his authority as the No 1,” Shongwe said. “That doesn’t mean every time he has played poorly.
“Remember there was a time he almost single-handedly took Chiefs to the (CAF) Champions League final. There was a time when he contributed to Chiefs’ strides. There’s a goalkeeper in there – it’s just that consistency is one of his biggest issues.”
Shongwe was also measured in his assessment, saying it would be unfair to place the blame solely on Bvuma when the team has also struggled in attack.
“The team didn’t score either. It’s one thing looking at Bruce Bvuma conceding, but the team didn’t score either,” Shongwe said.
“So, that didn’t help. I am hoping the team can look all round and not just look at Bruce.
“You also have to look at the goals he’s conceded – are they entirely his fault?
"No.
"Him not having played and Petersen having played well makes everything look as if he’s the sole contributor to the slump.”
With Chiefs set to face Durban City in a league match – which will likely be Bvuma’s third in goal since his return – on Sunday (3.30pm) at home, Shongwe hopes the team will improve and return to winning ways.
“The team is on shaky ground right now, and he’s there with it. I hope that the team, in their third game, will turn the corner. This is rock-bottom for me. They can’t go further down,” Shongwe concluded.