If Sipho Chaine was in need of a pat on the shoulder to inspire him this week ahead of the CAF Champions League semifinal first leg, then he has all his way.
Chaine has become difficult to ignore after elevating himself to continental recognition for the part he is playing at Orlando Pirates.
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Besides being the only goalkeeper that has been ever present of the four teams left in the Champions League with 12 appearances, he has kept eight clean sheets and conceded only four goals in the continental’s premier club competition.
Mohamed El Shenawy of Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns’ Ronwen Williams and Ahmed El Shenawy from Pyramids FC are all behind him.
"I’m approving everything that the boy is doing this season at Pirates," states Pirates’ legendary goalkeeper William Okpara, who played for the club for a dozen years.
"I rate him highly.
"I follow the boy and what I love about him is that he is not a showoff keeper but sticks to doing the basics right, which is important for a goalkeeper.
"He is down-to-earth and wants to make a name for himself.
"All he needs to do now is keep on improving on elements of his game that he and his coaches feel needs to be worked on.
"He is not big-headed but cool and so should keep working on hard on his game.
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"The plus is that he is playing with defenders that are not ball watchers but contribute in making sure that he doesn’t concede goals.
"Once I see the good work being done by the boy, I have to give him my approval," says Okpara.
