Kaizer Chiefs Goalkeeper, Reyaad Pieterse, revealed his feelings about his first start in an official league game. The Amakhosi demolished Polokwane City 4 – 1, in the Absa Premeirship league encounter, played on Wednesday, 27 November 2013.

The Ennerdale born goalkeeper, who started his football career as a defender was speaking to kaizerchiefs.com after the Team recuperation training on Thursday morning;

“I started playing as a defender when I was 10 years old in Mondeor. My friend’s grandfather, Ian van Leeve, was the coach for Mondeor youth club. He recommended me for a goalkeeper role because of my height” said the 21 year old. Pieterse played for Shamrock Rovers, a Premier Division club in Ireland, before joining Chiefs last season.

“It was a nerve wrecking experience walking on to the pitch. Getting my first start and filling the shoes of Captain Itumeleng Khune. I was scared but at least the Technical Team and Khune helped me to settle down. Though I was scared, I grew in confidence immediately after taking the pitch;” said Pieterse.

“My first touch was a goal kick. I just wanted to make an accurate and a safe kick, nothing fancy and extraordinary. My second touch was off a free kick which I saved. The Goalkeeper Coach (Dennis Rudel) advised me to make positional decisions based on the wet weather conditions and that helped me a lot.”

“I was disappointed, on two occasions when I miscued my clearances. I wanted to play it safe when my defenders played back passes. Our defenders (Tefu Mashamaite and Erick Mathoho) encouraged me to stay calm and that helped with my confidence.”

“The supporters were helpful as well. I heard them in the background cheering, ‘keeper! Keeper!’ A few of them came to me after the game and were telling me, ‘keeper you did well’. There is still a lot of work to do. I have a long career ahead of me. I will continue to listen and learn from the Coaches as a way of improving my game,” concluded a ‘calm as a cucumber’, Pieterse.