Kaizer Chiefs captain Brandon Petersen has broken his silence after being omitted from Bafana Bafana’s FIFA World Cup squad, choosing family over a free trip to watch the national team’s opening match in Mexico. The 31-year-old goalkeeper, one of six Bafana players who declined Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie’s sponsored offer to attend as spectators, took to Instagram to share a moment with his wife and three children. Petersen wrote that in their eyes he sees everything he will ever need, a post that drew support from Kaizer Chiefs teammate Bradley Cross—the only Amakhosi player selected for the squad—and retired Bafana legend Benni McCarthy, who commented that Petersen deserved more and encouraged him to keep pushing.
In a separate Instagram Story, Petersen shared a video reflecting on his Christian faith, recalling a time when a devastating medical diagnosis threatened his career but, through trust in God and lengthy rehabilitation, he returned to the pitch. He urged followers to remain faithful during difficult circumstances, declaring that while the outcome is not always what we want, with God on our side we are always the victors. “If God is for us, then who can be against us?” he asked, quoting scripture and reinforcing his resolve despite the disappointment of missing the World Cup roster.
Petersen’s decision to turn down the sponsored Mexico trip places