Maluleka not concerned by Khune’s absence

Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs midfielder George Maluleka has dismissed suggestions that the club is in crisis following the long-term injury to goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.

Khune was ruled out for the remainder of the season in December, forcing coach Ernst Middendorp to try a host of different stoppers in his absence.

Virgil Vries, who joined the club in the off-season, made various errors when he was eventually given the chance in January, resulting in the club bringing in Daniel Akpeyi from Chippa United on transfer deadline day.

With Akpeyi cup-tied, Bruce Bvuma was handed the gloves in the Nedbank Cup, but despite the inconsistencies behind the poles for Amakhosi, Maluleka isn’t too concerned.

“A lot of people say Khune’s injury was a crisis, which I don’t think it was,” he told the press.

“We have four quality goalkeepers here and maybe it also boils down to who deserves the chance, because they all do very well, train the same and they’re all quality.

“Lee Baxter would know [the answer] in terms of why use four goalkeepers in a season. But they all deserve to play, and I think that’s why there’s a spell of rotation between them.”