Ian Otieno of Richards Bay during the Betway Premiership match against Orlando Pirates at the Umhlathuze Sports Complex on Friday.
Image: BackpagePix
A masterclass in what not to do as a goalkeeper: that is what Richards Bay's Ian Otieno and Orlando Pirates' (and Bafana Bafana's number two) Sipho Chaine put on display as their teams drew 2-2 in a Betway Premiership encounter at the Umhlathuze Sports Complex on Friday night.
Perhaps it was the pressure of playing the league’s best and the need to deliver results that got to both goalkeepers; their performances were incredibly shaky—especially that of Sipho Chaine, who is a World Cup hopeful.
Ahead of Friday's outing, Chaine had not been beaten from long range since February 2025, yet he was defeated twice by the Natal Rich Boyz. On both occasions, he looked as though he had seen a ghost.
Being beaten from outside the 18-yard box is a troubling sign, especially for Hugo Broos, who, in his recent Bafana camp, opted for Sekhukhune United's Renaldo Leaner as a replacement for Chaine — despite the latter having played all of Pirates' league matches this season.
In January, Chaine was in the AFCON squad but did not play a single minute, as he deputised for the reliable Ronwen Williams.
Being left out of the Bafana squad recently when not injured should have rung alarm bells; however, Friday night's performance suggested otherwise, even if it was a solitary poor showing in what has otherwise been a successful season for him and his team.
On the other side, 32-year-old Kenyan goalkeeper Otieno had a game he will want to forget, as he fumbled the ball numerous times in his own box. Otieno looked shaken, as if the pressure of playing against title-chasing Pirates had chewed him up and spat him out.
From the first half, the Kenyan keeper struggled to assert himself in his area and looked dicey, especially when clearing corners. He is by no means of small stature and could easily impose himself should he choose to.
Granted, Thalente Mbatha's powerful shot in the 17th minute was hard to hold on to, but this is the highest league in the country — quality is expected by everyone, especially the fans.
A few mistakes can happen in a game, but if one were to scrutinise the errors that prevented Richards Bay from taking home three points, they were most likely the goalkeeper’s doing.
Otieno's catch rate from aerial balls was poor, and he fumbled numerous times, forcing his defenders to cover for him. On top of that, Otieno received a yellow card for time-wasting, which was probably his best decision all night in his attempt to save his team.
The Rich Boyz played a classy game of football, putting pressure on an incredibly talented and motivated Pirates team. Earlier in the week, Papi Zothwane mentioned his team's victory over Stellenbosch was progress, not luck. He was right. The game was Richards Bay's to lose after they went 2-1 up in the second half.
His biggest stumble of the night came when Otieno dropped a long-range shot in the 89th minute, which found its way over the line after a scramble. The moment infuriated even his own teammates, with two Richards Bay players rushing towards him in frustration. Luckily for him, the goal was disallowed.