Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma wants Amakhosi to use this evening’s first home DStv Premiership game of the season against Baroka to lay down a marker for FNB Stadium to become a “fortress” feared by visiting teams.

After keeping a clean sheet in the goalless away draw at TS Galaxy which kicked off Chiefs’ league season, Bvuma wants Amakhosi to make their dominance count at home tonight.

“They (Baroka) are coming to Soccer City. We need to start dominating our home games and we need to make FNB Stadium a fortress, a place where teams are scared to come and play. We will show when we play Baroka that we mean business, especially when we are at home. We welcome them and we look forward to showing them that this is our home ground,” a bristling Bvuma said, buoyed by getting the nod by coach Stuart Baxter to start Chiefs’ league campaign in goal.

“It feels great (starting against TS Galaxy). It shows I have been working hard and the coaches decided to pick me. I am grateful to have been chosen to start the season as the goalkeeper. It’s not the first time I start the opening league games of the season. I remember in 2019-20 I played in the first game against Highlands Park and we won the game 3-2,” Bvuma said on the eve of tonight’s game against Baroka, which kicks off at 17h00.

After starting the opening league game of that campaign two seasons ago, Bvuma was used sparingly thereafter, featuring only two more times as Chiefs made a run for the title.

He has grown with the experience of playing in some big games since then, and should he get the nod tonight he is looking for another clean sheet, and most importantly three points.

“For me the main thing is making sure the team wins. A clean-sheet is important for a goalkeeper, but my number one aim is for us to win,” says Bvuma, adding that while he was happy keeping a clean-sheet against Galaxy, he was disappointed it did not result in a victory for the team.

Bvuma was boosted by his call up for South Africa’s upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Ghana early next month, but for now his focus is squarely on Bakgakga tonight.

“We have been looking sharp in training. I am very happy with our preparations and looking forward to the next games, so we can show what we have been doing at training. The guys are all looking forward to this season and looking to create new memories. We know we did not start off the season the way we wanted to. We would have like to have gone through in the MTN 8 and to have collected three points in our first league game,” says Amakhosi shot stopper, whose only previous appearance against Baroka came in a 1-0 home loss during the 2017-18 season.

He is looking to turn that result around tonight against Baroka, who began the season positively with a win against Marumo Gallants.

“We watched them in their opening game which they won. We collected two points against them last season and we would like to get maximum points. We look forward to the game and ensuring that we collect maximum points this time around,” says Bvuma, who is calling on Amakhosi fans to “keep supporting and encouraging us”.

“Things will get better as we are working very hard as a team. The technical team are pushing us, and all things will come together for us very soon. We will give everything on the field of play,” vowed Bvuma in conclusion.