Counting down the top 10 best goalkeepers in the Absa Premiership.
10. Elvis Chipezeze
The Baroka FC shot-stopper is one of the reasons Bakgaga reached their maiden Telkom Knockout final and ultimately won it against Orlando Pirates.
The reigning Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League Goalkeeper of the Year arrived in South Africa at the beginning of the season from Chicken Inn on a three-year deal.
9. Nkosingiphile Gumede
The fairly young (cough cough*) Golden Arrows keeper has been improving every season since his debut in 2011. Yes, he is likely to make a mistake or two but that doesn’t take away from his overall game.
8. Jackson Mabokgwane
He is the reason why a good keeper like Brilliant Khuzwayo hasn’t had a game for Orlando Pirates this season. Jackson Mabokgwane moves his feet quickly to get into goal-saving position and he is an excellent shot-stopper.
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7. Peter Leeuwenburgh
The tall dutch keeper is what Cape Town City were missing after years of inconsistency in the goalkeeping department. He is agile for his height, comfortable under the high ball, and has a high footballing IQ.
6. Richard Ofori
Even though his team is likely to get relegated this season, he definitely isn’t to blame for his club’s poor performances. If anything, he has been keeping them in games that should have lost. He is a Ghanaian international and it’s only a matter of time before a good side signs him.
5. Patrick Tignyemb
He may be the most experienced goalkeeper on the list and sometimes the most frustrating. Patrick Tignyemb has cat-like reflexes even at age 33. He has improved his distribution but still has the annoying tendency of acting injured when his team is in the lead in the last minutes.
4. Ronwen Williams
With the type defence he got in front of him at Supersport, it’s a credit to him that they have only conceded 15 goals in 17 games in the league. We saw the now 26-year-old Williams grow and mature in front of eyes. From a chubby talented teenager to a composed all-round goalkeeper.
3. Darren Keet
Darren Keet doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Maybe it’s because he plays for a ‘small’ team, or maybe because he has the luxury of playing with two Bafana Bafana centrebacks in front of him, or maybe because his Twitter name is @popeyekeet. Whatever it is, it’s unfair. Keet has been the most consistent keeper since he came back to the PSL (from Europe) in 2016. Good in the air, great agility for his size, and a perfect decision-maker.
2. Denis Onyango
Some of you (Sundowns supporters) might disagree with me putting him in the second position. Denis Onyango is a good keeper one of the best in our league without a doubt. His bailed Sundowns out on numerous occasions but before he became a goalkeeping beast, before his award as the only African based player in the Africa Best XI, Onyango had a mistake in him.
They were times Onyango would make mistakes that cost Sundowns games, now he doesn’t even make errors that cost them a corner kick. He improved so much in the past few years and will likely be moving to a bigger, possibly European club, soon.
1. Itumeleng Khune
I’m not a fan Itumeleng Khune on the field of play. I dislike his dramatisation of every situation on the pitch.
BUT…
He is the best goalkeeper in the league and has been for the past 8 or so years. His shot-blocking, agility, and distribution are the best in the business. Oh, wait… And he never… ever makes a mistake. I can count on one hand how many times Khune has messed up.