Stellenbosch’s veteran goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt hopes the outcome of Saturday’s Nedbank Cup tie against Mamelodi Sundowns will not have to be decided on post-match penalties because he detests shootouts.
The 36-year-old will keep goal in the quarterfinal tie despite being the club’s back-up this season. It had been decided at the beginning of the season that he would play all the cup games.
But Langeveldt does not fancy the prospect of a penalty shootout should the clash at the Athlone Stadium end in a stalemate.
“When it comes to penalties it’s never easy. We always prepare and analyse what we can but, on the day, it comes down to being ready to react,” says the former under-23 international.
“Normally we analyse two days before the game. Training for penalties is not the same, the pressure is different of course on match day, with all the fans. You have to be able to handle the pressure. I always feel the advantage is with a kicker. We must keep one leg on the line. I don’t like shootouts at all,” he said in the build-up to the meeting with the Nedbank Cup holders.
Langeveldt has already been in one shootout this season when Stellenbosch lost to Kaizer Chiefs in the MTN8 quarterfinal in August. He was unable to save any of Chiefs’ kicks as they went through at the expense of the Winelands club.