Petersen – Negative Comments Don’t Define Me
Kaizer Chiefs captain Brandon Petersen has opened up about dealing with criticism and knowing his worth as he prepares to face Orlando Pirates in Saturday’s highly anticipated Soweto Derby.
Peterson has come under scrutiny from sections of the Amakhosi faithful since the start of the season following a series of costly mistakes that have seen the team drop valuable points. The goalkeeper also faced criticism after his error contributed to Chiefs’ MTN8 quarter-final elimination against Golden Arrows, where it led to the only goal of the match.
However, the 32-year-old has stressed the importance of not allowing negative comments to define him, insisting that knowing his worth and believing in his abilities remain crucial to his journey as a footballer.
“The most important thing for me is knowing that the negative comments and things being said about me do not define me as a person or as a footballer because I am much more than that,” he said.
“Secondly, it is about knowing my worth. It is important to know who you are and what you stand for. When you understand that, whatever happens around you does not really affect you or become an obstacle in your journey because I know what I am about and what I am capable of producing.
“For me, it is about believing in myself and knowing that the people around me also believe in me. The main focus should always be on improving, getting better and putting in good performances.”
Meanwhile, Peterson is eager to make his contribution after returning from an injury he sustained before the FIFA international break. The setback forced him to miss three matches for the Soweto giants.
The Chiefs captain returned to action this week in their Carling Knockout Round of 16 encounter against TS Galaxy, keeping a clean sheet as Amakhosi progressed to the next round.
Peterson also reflected on his recovery process, highlighting the importance of rehabilitation and ensuring that he is physically and mentally prepared before returning to competitive action.
“I like to believe that when you get injured, there is a reason for it. For me, the most important thing is how you come back, how you approach your rehabilitation and how you get yourself into the right headspace to ensure that when you return, you hit the ground running,” Peterson added.
“It has been important for me to make sure that I do all my rehabilitation to the best of my ability, and even more, so that physically I am in good shape when I come back and am called upon.
“I have been working hard, and things have been going very well. It is good to be back on the field, and I am looking forward to this weekend.”
Amakhosi will face their arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in a sold-out Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday, with Peterson expected to play a crucial role between the posts.
The last time the 32-year-old faced the Buccaneers, he produced an impressive performance that earned him the Man of the Match award. However, his individual brilliance was not enough to secure all three points for Chiefs, as the encounter ended in a 1-1 draw.
With another highly anticipated showdown between the two Soweto giants approaching, Peterson will be hoping to build on his return from injury and deliver another commanding performance, this time with the ultimate aim of helping Chiefs secure victory over their biggest rivals.
