Petersen impressed by Phili’s seamless integration at Naturena

Speaking to a group of journalists, including SABC Sport at the launch of the MTN8 in Randburg last night, Petersen says Phili, who joined Amakhosi from Stellenbosch this week, came in and settled in his first training session. 

This has been the much-talked-about deal throughout the transfer window, and Petersen is pleased that the Durban-born youngster is coming in to settle early at AmaKhosi...

"For a young player like him to come in and settle so quickly is a good sign. When he stepped on the field no one had to motivate or encourage him, he stepped in like he's always been here."

What could have made things further easier for Phili is to arrive in a Chiefs team full of youngsters, and some of the players in the team like Mfundo Vilakazi and Luke Baartman, he knows from the South African national U20 and U23 teams. 

Petersen admits that this has possibly made it easier for the 21year-old to find the Naturena surroundings easy to get used to.

Phili will be available for selection and could make his Chiefs debut in this weekend’s MTN8 quarterfinal against Golden Arrows at the FNB Stadium on Sunday.

Chiefs have now made four new signings so far this season, including another former Stellenbosch FC defender, Thabo Moloisane, former Sekhukhune United goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner, and Tanzanian midfield enforcer Adolf Mtasingwa Bitegeko. 

Petersen says all the new signings are settling in nicely at the club...

"The most important thing for the new guys will be to focus on their game and not let all the hype and all the noise cloud their judgement. They are here for a reason, so they just need to go out there and believe in themselves because we do."

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Another player Chiefs fans haven’t seen on the pitch for a very long time is Bafana Bafana defender Rushwin Dortley, who missed the whole of last season recovering from injuries and surgeries. He’s now back training with the team, and Petersen says they are hoping he’ll back soon to full fitness.