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Middendorp faces a goalkeeping dilemma with the injured Nigeria international, but will he remember his more experienced closer?
The Kaizer Chiefs have a goalkeeping crisis before the final two games of the season after their starting goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi was ruled out with a concussion.
Akpeyi suffered a concussion in Amakhosi’s 1-0 loss to Bidvest Wits last weekend and had to be replaced by Bruce Bvuma, who has been sitting on the bench as the club’s second goalkeeper since the return of football.
Ernst Middendorp has a tough decision to make for matches against Chippa United and Baroka, especially after leaving Itumeleng Khune out in recent matches.
According to Middendorp, there is ‘something missing’ in the goalkeeper’s game and that is the reason why he has not been closer to the squads of the team day.
Now who should start for Amakhosi in Akpeyi’s absence?
Middendorp has been so firm in their decision to play Akpeyi ahead of Khune this season that they were often irritated when asked about the possible return of the club’s inspiring goalkeeper.
In one of his recent interviews, the 61-year-old mentor referred all questions about Khune’s absence to management.
But this might be the right time to bring him back, especially if he wants to see the Chiefs lift the league trophy.
Khune may not be in shape as he hasn’t played a competitive game since March, when the Chiefs lost a Nedbank Cup game to Highlands Park.
However, if he is fit to play, in my opinion Middendorp should play him ahead of Bvuma due to his superior qualities, which is why he remains one of the best goalkeepers in the country.
The 25-year-old Bvuma previously proved that he is a quality goalkeeper, but the pressure, at this stage of the season, could overwhelm him as the Chiefs are challenging the championship and therefore cannot afford to give. one wrong step.
Playing Bvuma in the remaining two games will be a big gamble, and if Middendorp and their technical team are willing to take that risk, the chances of them defeating Mamelodi Sundowns for the crown are slim.
Don’t take anything away from Bvuma, but it doesn’t offer what Khune does to the team: leadership, effective communication and organizational skills in addition to the experience he has in his professional career.
The 33-year-old was in the thick of things when the Chiefs fought the Sundowns for the title in successive seasons more than five years ago, and that’s the kind of experience any coach would value at this stage of the season.
The mental ability to withstand pressure during this period is also crucial to the success of any team, and Khune offers just that.
Plus, Khune’s passing game is out of this world and with Chiefs renowned for their long balls atop the field this season, he’s certainly the man Middendorp needs the most right now.
His tactical awareness, agility and ability to stop opposing forwards in one-on-one situations are an added bonus.
In recent games, the Chiefs have conceded in one-on-one situations as their defense has been violated more frequently, and having Khune behind the bottom four means there is less chance of them conceding goals.
