It is often said that you need to be crazy to be a goalkeeper, but for Brighton Mhlongo, the fabric that clothes a good sticks-man is mostly made up of good with a good personality, on and off the pitch.
The role of a goalkeeper is a specialized one, and unlike on-field players, the buck usually ends with goalies as an error by them usually has far worse consequences, often leading to the ball crawling to the back of the net.
AmaZulu goalkeeper Veli Mothwa has been the joke of the town in recent weeks after having two bad days in the office for Bafana Bafana and Usuthu. However, both his coaches at national and club level were quick to shield him, as Pablo Franco suggests that those who are howling at Mothwa are unfair.
Mhlongo, meanwhile, who has experienced a couple of off days in his heyday as he turned out for Bidvest Wits, Orlando Pirates, and Chippa United, shares Franco and Hugo Broos’ sentiments.
"To be a great goalkeeper you need to be a great human being. The reason I say that is that when a striker makes a mistake, there is always a midfielder that is going to recover."
“For a midfielder, there is always a defender to pick up the pieces, but when a defender makes a mistake, he looks at me and I have to save him.
“Sadly for a goalkeeper [when you make a mistake] it is in the back of the net and when you turn, there is the crowd that is busy hurling insults at your and they want to skin you alive,” Mhlongo told Nedbank Uncovered.
WATCH: Goalkeepers’ costly errors
Not a regular occurrence in the Premier Soccer League, but sometimes, strikers may score a hat-trick and go on to miss a penalty or a clear-cut opportunity, which gets overlooked and the three goals scored are celebrated.
“The harsh reality is that you can have the best of games ever and then you get to 93 minutes and concede one goal, then you are the worst goalkeeper ever. It is just a game of character and how you come of that.
“When we concede, you will see all the heads (of in-field players) turning to look at you. Now you are the governor who is looking at everybody. In good times, they say ‘the striker was amazing’, but in bad times they say ‘how can a goalkeeper let in a soft goal like that’.
“When a defender makes a mistake, I already understand that position where I know that he feels bad about it and I don’t have to kick him when he is down.
“Because I need him, I need to lift him up even when I can see that it is not working. You need to be able to lead from the heart because with that you need to make good judgement calls. That alone, creates a good and strong character on and off the pitch,” Mhlongo explains.
