Kaizer Chiefs have disclosed that they decided to sign Daniel Akpeyi in order to block a leaky position in the squad, sequel to an injury that has sidelined Bafana Bafana ace, Itumeleng Khune.
Amakhosi quickly moved to hook Akpeyi from Chippa United, following complaints by their coach, Ernst Middendorp about their second keeper.
Footballlive.ng gathered further that Chiefs reckoned that Akpeyi will help them stem the tide that has seen the team concede eight goals and managed just one clean sheet in five games.
Khune’s absence has been a topic of debate since he was ruled out of action through a shoulder injury in December, with Middendorp mostly worried about the performances of their stand-in shot-stopper.
Middendorp grew increasingly frustrated with the reserve keeper, Virgil Vries following yet another blunder by the Namibian against Cape Town City on Wednesday.
Vries conceded five goals over their two-legged CAF Confederation Cup second round fixture against Zambian outfit ZESCO United, who have since advanced to the tournament group stages at Amakhosi’s expense.
Based on the coach’s recommendation, Amakhosi reached an agreement with Chippa to sell Akpeyi, and he was unveiled as their new keeper at a press conference at 1:30pm on Thursday.
Chiefs’ top brass, though, settled for the 32-year-old Super Eagles back-up keeper after failing in their preferred options, with just few hours to go before the transfer window closed at midnight.
The Glamour Boys had earlier been linked to Mamelodi Sundowns top keeper, Thela Ngobeni, but the Johannesburg-based club failed in their pursuit of the former Free State Stars safe pair of hands.
Kaizer Chiefs then announced during their press conference at the club headquarters in Naturena that Akpeyi had formally been signed.
Amakhosi fans will now hope Akpeyi can help them bounce back from a disappointing first half of the season, which saw Middendorp hired to replace Giovanni Solinas, who parted ways with the side in December.
The 32-year-old shot-stopper made the trip after Chippa United reached an agreement with Kaizer Chiefs for the former Gabros International of Nnewi, Heartland of Owerri, Nasarawa United of Lafia and Warri Wolves of Delta State safe hands.
The Holland 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup silver medalist and Rio 2016 Olympics bronze winner was with Chippa United since 2015, during which he had over 100 appearances for the club and got 36 clean sheets.
