Soweto Derby

Who will start in goal for Chiefs – Khune or Akpeyi?

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Kaizer Chiefs duo Itumeleng Khune and Daniel Akpeyi

Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp is facing a goalkeeping conundrum ahead of Amakhosi’s much-anticipated Soweto derby clash with Orlando Pirates this coming weekend.

The Glamour Boys will take on the Buccaneers in the second instalment of the Soweto derby in the Absa Premiership this season, with Amakhosi securing a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Pirates at the FNB Stadium the last time the teams met on 19 November 2019.

Amakhosi current sit atop the league standings with 45 points after 20 matches, six points ahead of third-placed Pirates, who played one more game than their Soweto rivals.

Daniel Akpeyi

Daniel Akpeyi of Kaizer Chiefs

The 33-year-old shotstopper has stepped up and proved his worth in the absence of Khune, but his form was recently questioned after his error cost Amakhosi a 2-1 defeat by Maritzburg United earlier this month.

In the absence of Khune, Akpeyi has proven to be highly influential as the last line of defence for Amakhosi, despite the Nigeria international struggling to find his feet at the start of the season.

However, Akpeyi has since made the No 1 jersey his own with impressive performances for Amakhosi to help his side maintain their place at the league summit, having already kept eight clean sheets from 19 appearances across all competions.

Akpeyi’s stats during the 2019-20 season

Appearances: 19
Clean sheets: 8
Goals conceded: 17
Minutes played: 1.742′

Itumeleng Khune

Itumeleng Khune of Kaizer Chiefs during the 2020 Nedbank Cup last-16 match between Highlands Park and Kaizer Chiefs on 22 February 2020 at Makhulong Stadium, Tembisa. Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

The Bafana Bafana star dropped down the pecking order at Chiefs after sustaining multiple injuries, which have kept him sidelined for a lengthy time.

However, Khune has slowly begun to rediscover his form to earn his place back in the Amakhosi starting XI as their first-choice goalkeeper.

Since his long-awaited return, Khune has featured four times for the Soweto giants this campaign – two in the Nedbank Cup and two in the Absa Premiership – while keeping three clean sheets and conceding just one goal with 10 games remaining until the end of the season.

Khune’s stats during the 2019-20 season

Appearances: 4
Clean sheets: 3
Goals conceded: 1
Minutes played: 328′