After the 3-0 loss to VfL Bochum, the former Kaizer Chiefs number one was pulled aside by his goalie coach, Thomas Schliek, who told him ‘your distribution was very good today.’
Fernandez has always been an excellent distributor of the ball with his hands and feet. Not only did Schliek inspire confidence, but Fernandez’s teammates said they had never seen a goalie kick the ball like he did.
While Bielefeld are struggling in the Bundesliga in 14th position, Fernandez has done well to dislodge club captain Mathias Haan within his first season.
Fernandez’s manager Ryan Hartslief says Fernandez’s move was always about “settling into the Bundesliga in the first season with the aim of playing regularly in the swecond season”.
If Fernandez plays this Sunday, which he has a 50/50 chance of doing, he will be up against German powerhouse and League leaders Bayern Munich in a home match.
Against Bochum, Fernandez could do nothing about the first two goals but admits he “could’ve done better with the third”.
Still, he has got a taste of first team action, which is good news for Carlos Alberto Parreira ahead of the African Nations Cup in Ghana next year.
