Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Junior Khanye has called on Ernst Middendorp to return Itumeleng Khune to the number one position.
Amakhosi fans shouted ‘Khune’ after goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi conceded the first goal in their 2-1 defeat to Maritzburg United at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Khune has only played one game this season, against Royal Eagles in the Nedbank Cup, since returning from a long-term injury.
Khanye has since lashed out at Middendorp for putting Khune on the stands.
“Itumeleng Khune must go back to the starting line-up. There is no competition,” Khanye tells kickoff.com.
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“I don’t know what the coach is trying to achieve. I don’t know what Middendorp was trying to do to put Khune on the stands.
“Khune has done a tremendous job for both Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana. Khune is the number one keeper for South Africa, I don’t care who says what.
“He remains the best keeper in South Africa and I don’t know why the coach wants to compare him to Akpeyi. I don’t know what he is trying to achieve or wants to show people he can win the league without Khune.
“Daniel Akpeyi is slow to dive, his reaction is slow. That goal on Saturday was supposed to stay in the goal line if he was not going to catch the ball. The guy doesn’t command.
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“Khune is vocal and can marshal the defence. He can play the ball with his feet and distribute the ball well. I am not happy with the way Chiefs play. I love the club and I grew up there.
“Their defence is slow but the presence of Khune helps because he can communicate well at the back.”
Chiefs are set to take on Highlands Park in the Nedbank Cup last 16 in Tembisa on Saturday (15h00) and it remains to be seen if Middendorp will retain Akpeyi for that game.
6 Comments
“….I don’t know what he is trying to achieve or wants to show people he can win the league without Khune….”
That statement above summarizes their angst towards the coach. That a foreigner is leading their charge for the league title after so many trophyless years is something they cant really come to terms with…Lolz…Very Xenephobic set of people
Akpeyi should better pray hard so that his village people will not start working against him again. He dropped a harmless aerial ball which led to his team conceeding against the run of play this last weekend. With so much bitterness at his progress he doesnt need too many errors to replace ‘son of the soil’ Khune in the stands.
Nuff said.
The problem with South Africans( and most Africans, my Ghanaian brothers I am looking at you) they are lost to their envy of the productivity of Nigerians ,especially on the behest of their lack or inferiority productivity.
We seem to do well in a place where they couldn’t;most times right in their homestead.
Such envy leads to bitterness ; Junior Khanye just shared his not so secret bitterness.
The good thing for Akpeyi;most of the Kaizer Chief fans still got his back ,the boss too. They appreciate his effort so far this season and they aren’t shying away from the fact ,he has stood in well for Khune and even one of the main reasons they are top of the league.
The coach,Middebtorp is German. He is rigid and plain with his thoughts of who is number one.and it is Akpeyi.
Kaizer chief are sitting well on top and barring any scandalous run of results,they would win the league.
But on other hand, Akpeyi need to get a grip of himself. He seems to falter at the most important moment. He should be pass this by now,based on his experience.
He is natural goal keeper with good reflexes and should draw confidence from that fact.
Or else, he is going to let himself down and lose all he has built so far this season;as it relates to his chances in both clubside and the national team..
@ Mr Hush.
Dont mind that cynical dude. KC are sitting pretty at the top of the table with the highest goal difference and one of 3 teams with the least goals conceeded so far, yet
“..Daniel Akpeyi is slow to dive, his reaction is slow….Their defence is slow but the presence of Khune helps because he can communicate well at the back…..”
Talk about giving a dog a bad name to kill it….LMAO
All these trophyless years Khune has been no 1, the defence was not slow. He was happy with the way Chiefs play….Lolz. Hatred sure makes people lose their sense of reasoning.
@Dr Drey
No better way to summarise it..
“Hatred sure makes people lose their sense of reasoning…”
Junior just proved it…
The intelligently and clear-thinking of the Germans coupled with their shrewdness stands them out.This are some of the qualities that has brought huge successes to the country and their international teams and others coached by Germans pummel their opponents on game day,Nigeria is a beneficiary.
Thankfully,Middendorp is German otherwise a local south African coach would apply sentiment and confine Akpeyi to the bench.
However,every football coach likes to be celebrated a winner,and you cant achieve that leaving your best to wallowing on the bench.If Middendorp has picked Akpeyi as first choice then he’s obviously the best.Khanye should respect the coaches decision and support a team who are doing so well to sit comfortably at the top of the league.
It’s a shame Khanye and most xenophobic South Africans cannot see anything good outside their country.
oops!wallow