Chaine reflects on MTN8 heroics and relationship with Pirates fans

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine is the new talk of the town after his impressive heroics in the MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns. However, the admiration hasn’t always been mutual from Pirates fans as far as the 26-year-old is concerned.

The Ghost enjoy a strange love-hate relationship with Chaine, who gets a lot of stick from the stands in a clear lack of trust for his technical ability to play out from the back.

He responded in the most emphatic way by saving three penalties in the shootout as the Buccaneers retained their top 8 crown. He also made a crucial stop early in the first half to deny Sundowns captain Themba Zwane in a one-on-one situation.

“We try by all means to play a certain way the coach wants us to play. It’s a risky way of doing things but I think it works for us,” Chaine said when addressing the media after the final at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.

“You have to believe in your ability and what you want to accomplish. Sometimes it’s not easy but it builds character. That save (against Zwane) in the first half was really a confidence booster. The goalkeeper is very important to keep the team in the game when it’s really tough.

“It was a balanced game and one goal could have won it and I’m glad I saved the team. It gave me more confidence in the penalty shootout. I’m part of Orlando Pirates and I’m glad that I could help the team today irrespective of what has happened in the past.”

‘We should also give credit to referees’

Chaine also addressed the big talking point after he nearly gave away a penalty following a tackle on Lebohang Maboe inside his own box.

 “I know they go through a lot but we should also give credit to referees when they have a good game like they did today,” he said.

 “It was a good call from him, even when I went in for the 50/50 challenge (with Maboe) there was a foul on me first which he (referee Abongile Tom) picked up and it was a great call. It wouldn’t have been easy for him to see if he wasn’t paying attention.”

Deon Hotto, Lesedi Kapinga and Karim Kimvuidi all converted their penalties while Chaine, who was named man-of-the-match saved Bongani Zungu, Junior Mendieta and Teboho Mokoena’s spot-kicks to endear himself on the hard-to-please Bucs faithful.