It’s clear Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter remains uncertain as to his goalkeeper pecking order as he scrambles to find a solution to the club’s on-field woes.
Already out of the MTN8 and not part of the CAF Champions League this season, Baxter can focus solely on the DStv Premiership (and the Nedbank Cup later in the season).
However, despite a number of high-profile off-season signings – a luxury previous coach Gavin Hunt did NOT have during his time at the helm thanks to Kaizer Chiefs’ transfer ban – the 2021/22 league season has gotten off to a disastrous start for the Glamour Boys.
After five matches they have picked up just five points – and find themselves down in 13th place in the standings.
More worrying for Amakhosi supporters is the calibre (on paper at least) of the teams they have played to date.
With respect to them, none of TS Galaxy, Baroka FC, Royal AM and Marumo Gallants ought to strike fear in an Amakhosi side packed with internationals and star names earning outrageous salaries.
Kaizer Chiefs should have 12 points from four wins over those sides (two of which were at their once fortress FNB Stadium). Instead they have just one victory (over Baroka FC) and lost to Royal AM.
Kaizer Chiefs’ only ‘excuse’ could potentially be their away defeat to reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns. But if they wish to contend for the title, those are the sort of matches to pick up at least a point.
It also appears that Baxter is uncertain as to his first-choice (and back-up) goalkeeper.
In the match prior to Sunday’s one – against Royal AM – Baxter elected to hand a first start to Brandon Peterson.
That backfired as the former Ajax Cape Town and Bidvest Wits shot-stopper leaked a season-high four goals in a shock 4-2 defeat.
Peterson was relegated to the bench for Sunday’s match against Marumo Gallants as Daniel Akpeyi came into the starting line-up and put in a man-of-the-match performance.
That would suggest that Nigeria’s Akpeyi has cemented his spot in goal for the foreseeable future.
But what happens now to Peterson, Bruce Bvuma and Amkhosi legend Itumeleng Khune?
It’s something of a luxury to have four capable goalkeepers in any squad.
At 34, Khune’s days at Naturena are surely numbered and despite signing a one-year extension, he’s unlikely to see any game time any time soon.
