Akpeyi maintains clean sheet in Chiefs return victory
Super Eagles safe hand Daniel Akpeyi was in goal for Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday as they earn a 2-0 victory over
visiting Sekhukhune United. The Chiefs have had to skip a couple of matches over covid crisis. But the team bounced back on Sunday to earn a well deserved three points with the Nigeria international ensuring that the visitors did not leave Soccer City stadium with a point or a goal.
Nkosingiphile Ngcobo scored the first goal and created the second to give Chiefs enough to cheer about.
Chiefs, the best-supported club in the republic and the most successful with 53 domestic titles, were unable to fulfil two recent league fixtures covid sidelined 48 players and staff.
England-born head coach Stuart Baxter was among those who had not recovered by this weekend, but assistant Arthur Zwane guided Chiefs to a victory that lifted the side five places.
Chiefs have 25 points from 14 matches, 12 less than leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played one match more in the richest African league with a 15 million rand ($940,000/830,000 euro) first prize.
Four clubs began Sunday with a chance of going second and Chiefs triumphed while Royal AM and Stellenbosch drew their matches and Sekhukhune lost.
A decision is expected on Monday as to whether Chiefs will forfeit or replay fixtures against Cape Town City and Golden Arrows with the Soweto club saying they had insufficient fit players to field teams.
“I thought we were very good in the first half, but our energy levels dipped as the match wore on because training was severely disrupted,” said former Chiefs star Zwane.
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“The last 20 minutes were hell with many players cramping and others tiring. I am so proud of our performance tonight.”
Sekhukhune coach MacDonald Makhubedu was furious with his players as the promoted club suffered successive losses for the first time this season.
“They thought we had won the match before it kicked off. It was so untypical of my boys. Instead of effort there was complacency and instead of humility there was arrogance.”