Akpeyi receives backing of club coach

Although Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi will not be in post for Kaizer Chiefs against Highlands Park in the Nedbank Cup match today, coach Middendorp maintains that he remains the first choice goalkeeper for the club.

Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune will be in post for today's match.

Last week, mistimed run by Daniel Akpeyi partly led to a goal conceded by Kaizer Chiefs against Maritzburg in their 2:1 home loss in the league leading to harsh criticisms from some quarters of Akpeyi's goalkeeping abilities.

Some asked for Akpeyi to be consigned to the bench for the remainder of the season.

However, coach of Kaizer Chiefs Middendorp maintained he confidence in Akpeyi by saying:

“Let me make one thing clear, our supporters are very intelligent, they don’t get carried away just because there was a little small mistake [by Akpeyi] and we conceded in our defensive work. We’ve seen a fantastic Daniel Akpeyi over months, rescuing us in the final stages by saving a penalty; he was very crucial in other games and, as everyone knows, he was the Player of the Month [for September-October]. What we have seen over the past seven or eight months, please guys, everybody who observes and follows Kaizer Chiefs knows exactly what a goalkeeper like Daniel Akpeyi has done for us during this season."

There is no way in this moment for me, for us, or each and everybody in this sorted Kaizer Chiefs so-called family, who is ignoring it.”

The coach indicated that he will continue rotating his squad so that one goalkeeper keeps in the league whilst another keeps in cup competitions.