Super Eagles goal keeper, Daniel Akpeyi has been confirmed as Kazier Chiefs first choice despite the return of club legend, Itumeleng Khune according to manager, Ernst Middendorp,
Akpeyi was a panic makeshift buy in January 2019 following a long-term injury on captain Khune.
Having struggled to emerge as a clear first-choice option at the start of his Chiefs career, the former Chippa United shot-stopper has had a firmer grip on the gloves during the new season, starting in all but three of their 14 fixtures so far.
When Middendorp was quizzed on his preferred choice between the two players, he revealed that it was Akpeyi who currently had the upper hand on his South African counterpart.
“I don’t know. What are you saying? But who has been No.1 this season? Let’s not talk about other players,” he retorted. “We have a number-one goalkeeper, who is performing week-in and week-out, who is the national team goalkeeper for Nigeria, having done a fantastic job in AFCON.
“Guys, we are looking into things, the performances we are getting week in, and week out, the record is there as a reference. What you are saying is a little bit far out of the frame,” he said.
The 33-year-old Nigerian star has been instrumental in maintaining Chiefs’ near-perfect run across competition, making crucial penalty saves.
