Sipho Chaine has etched his name into the history books of South African football, shattering a long-standing record held by Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams. The Orlando Pirates goalkeeper has registered his 19th clean sheet of the current Betway Premiership season, moving past the previous benchmark of 18 set by the Mamelodi Sundowns man. With two league fixtures still remaining, Chaine has a genuine opportunity to further distance himself from the mark, capping a campaign that has been nothing short of sensational for the 28-year-old shot-stopper.
This season has been the finest of Chaine’s career, marked by extraordinary consistency and composure. At one stage, he went 754 minutes without conceding a goal, keeping eight consecutive clean sheets in the process. Across all competitions, he has amassed at least 25 clean sheets in roughly 39 appearances, conceding just 19 goals. His performances in the CAF Champions League have further elevated his reputation, showcasing calmness in one-on-one situations and the ability to build attacks effectively from the back, making the Pirates defence far more disciplined and organised.
Chaine’s journey from a backup option at Royal AM and Chippa United to a record holder at Orlando Pirates is one of the league’s great success stories. After forcing his way into the Bucs starting lineup following his 2022 arrival, he now finds himself discussed among the continent’s elite goalkeepers under coach Abdelsam Ouaddou. Having already claimed the Betway Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season award last year, he is well positioned to defend that honour. With his consistent excellence, the pressure is mounting on Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos to grant Chaine another opportunity at the international level.