Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez has put Amakhosi’s intense preparations and hard work as the reason for Chiefs amazing penalty shoot out victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in Rustenburg on Saturday.

Speaking after he had made some outstanding saves during the game and then crucially stopping Godfrey Sapula’s kick to ensure Chiefs a place in the ABSA Cup Final. Rowen earned himself some extra cash by saving Sapula’s spot kick as he won the ‘flexi save of the match’ award.

Prior to the game against Sundowns, Rowen did mention that Chiefs were ready for any eventuality that might have been kicked in their direction. Rowen showed how keen he was to make an impression with an excellent save off a Surprise Moriri header late in the second half.

The former U-23 national team goalkeeper was also the hero of the shootout saving from Godfrey Sapula and making Peter Ndlovu drag his kick wide.

After Saturday’s victory Rowen was elated and could not hide his joy “beating the big boys is always lekker, the feeling is just great and since we prepared for penalties in training there could be no way we were going to lose”.

Rowen was involved in Chiefs penalty shootout in 2004 when he made some crucial saves in the shootout against Moroka Swallows in the Coca Cola Cup ½ Final to carry Chiefs to the final.

The Chiefs net minder is hopeful that history will repeat itself as Chiefs then moved on to the final and defeated SuperSport United in the final. “We now have the final to look forward to. Pirates have not won anything this season and because they lost out on the league they will be taking the ABSA Cup very seriously,” said Rowen.

He was still upbeat about Chiefs chances of taking the ABSA Cup saying “despite all of this we will go into the game with the same confidence we took with us into the Sundowns game and we will give Pirates the fight of their lives”.

With the long weekend now behind us and with most people having already returned to work - Amakhosi will return to training on Wednesday and with no matches scheduled for this week, Rowen and company will have extra preparation time.

Chiefs are next in action on the 13th May when they take on SuperSport United at home in a league game and it will double up as the perfect preparation for the ABSA Cup Final on the 20th May when Chiefs aim for their third victory of the season over Pirates.