Hardrock FC goalkeepers’ coach Phumuzile “Buffon” Zikhali has applauded the outstanding efforts of his department after a remarkable campaign that saw the Central Region Soccer League (CRSL) champions concede just nine goals throughout the season on their way to Premier Soccer League (PSL) promotion.
Zikhali, widely regarded as an unsung hero in Hardrock’s backroom staff, successfully managed a rotation of three goalkeepers — veterans Mathias Kigonya and Takabva “Zi Keeper” Mawaya, along with rising star Jin Jihaad Murayanemwe — balancing experience and youth to deliver one of the league’s best defensive records.
“As much as it’s all about competition and motivation, fairness in selection encourages hard work,” he said. “Jin Murayanemwe is a young goalkeeper with a lot of potential. I praised his effort, reminded him of his importance to the team, and gave him trust in his abilities.”
He added that consistency and unity were central to their success.
“The most effective way to ensure that is by implementing a structured curriculum focused on technical and tactical understanding. Unity goes beyond the field.”
Reflecting on the team’s defensive record, Zikhali said Hardrock’s success was a collective effort.
“Conceding only nine goals is great for the goalkeepers, but you can’t do it without contribution from the infield players. The secret is only hard work.”
Hardrock’s defensive resilience has been credited to a strong psychological approach, tactical rotation, and team unity.
“In every game we encouraged our goalkeepers to use positive self-talk to build confidence and combat self-doubt. We created a supportive environment where coach and goalkeeper exchange constructive feedback — this helps them manage pressure and criticism better.”
Zikhali also explained how a structured rotation system helped maintain high performance among Kigonya, Mawaya and Murayanemwe.
“We ensured every goalkeeper felt valued by rotating them based on performance. If one made a mistake or lost a game, the other got a chance. That kept them on their toes and focused.”
He stressed that teamwork remained more important than individual brilliance.
“Teamwork goes beyond drills. It’s a collective effort — we defend as a unit.”
Kigonya finished the season with 20 clean sheets, conceding six goals in 26 games, while Mawaya kept seven clean sheets and conceded three goals in eight matches.
