I am doing my best with every passing game, says Kaizer Chiefs No 1 Bvuma

Bruce Bvuma is doing his best to find the balance at Kaizer Chiefs: uphold the lineage of the club’s greatest goalkeepers and being true to himself.

Bvuma is Chiefs’ No 1. And that’s a dream come true for him given that when he joined the youth structures he was eager to reach those echelons.

But such is the heavy burden that comes with being Chiefs’ No 1 who hails from the youth structures, there’s little to no margin for error.

There are standards which need to be practised, including standing head and shoulders above your peers in top-flight football.

This is what the likes of Eshele Botende, followed by Brian Baloyi, Rowen Fernandez and Itumeleng Khune had set during their illustrious stints at the club.

Bvuma has done his best to keep his head above the waters - follow in those footsteps while finding his true strengths in his game.

However, things haven’t quite gone according to plan this season. He has blown hot and cold so much so that he’s often compared to his predecessors.

The 29-yer-old has developed a thick skin, though. He knows he can only do so much to convince the masses that he’s the befitting No 1 of the team.

“I do that by showing up, and giving my best everyday. I believe in God and trust that his time is always perfect,” said Bvuma on finding balance.

“I know very well that everything that happens, happens for a reason. So, yeah, it’s just about giving my all.”

Bvuma adds that he didn’t come to Chiefs blindfolded as he knew what he was setting himself up for, and that’s why he strives to be the best version of himself.

“Of course, even before I came to Chiefs, I knew the importance of a Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper,” Bvuma said.

“I also saw the goalkeepers they had before, so obviously, as a player coming to Chiefs. I wanted to be at the top with the best.”

But not everyone thinks Bvuma is anywhere close to being at his best, including his idol Khune who criticised him for not heeding his advice when they played together.

Bvuma, though, knows that criticism is part and parcel of the game, and that’s why he respects Khune’s opinion about this progress this season.

“Itu is a club legend, what he has done for our team, I don’t think anyone of our generation will do,” Bvuma said.

“What he has done for the country is very big. I respect him. I do talk to Itu, and whatever happened, happened, whatever he said, he said.

“My focus is the team, and doing well. I need to make sure that I live to my full potential as well.”

Some Chiefs fans also believe that Bvuma is not pulling his weight around enough to ensure that the team keeps clean sheets.

Bvuma is again not swayed by that - he knows who’s the first person who’ll give him a beating after a poor day in the office.

“I work hard and do my best. If my best is not enough, that doesn’t mean I have to stop,” Bvuma explained.

“When someone says something that (criticises), that’s okay - that’s their own opinion. Like I said, as a goalkeeper, after every goal that you concede, you look at myself first before anyone else.

“I would tell myself if I did this, maybe I could have saved the ball. So, it (the criticism) doesn’t do anything (to discourage me).”

Bvuma knows he has to take the criticism on the chin and do his best to keep clean sheets until the end of the season.

Chiefs have a chance of ending their 10-year-drought via the Nedbank Cup as they’ll face arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on May 10.

Moreover, they could finish in the Top 8 this season if they keep more clean sheets and score goals up front - things that have hindered the progress of the team.

“For me, what’s important is the team doing well. If the team is not doing well, my clean sheets and performances won’t count,” Bvuma admitted.

“My focus is on the team. If the team can do well, I believe I can also shine in that bracket. But as things stand, we haven’t been doing well, and we are aware of that.”

Bvuma can shine if he helps Chiefs to keep a clean sheet and win when they host Marumo Gallants at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon (3pm).