Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs head coach Ernst Middendorp has confirmed he will keep faith with Daniel Akpeyi when Amakhosi face Highlands Park in Durban on Saturday.
The 32-year-old was at fault for conceding the equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Polokwane City last Saturday, as he allowed a speculative effort from long range to squirm under his body.
However, Middendorp feels it is "normal" for players to make mistakes and says he is counting on Akpeyi to show a positive reaction when his starts against the Lions of the North at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
"I only hope that he has the right mentality to bounce back, and not getting any effects by it," Middendorp is quoted as saying by TimesLive.
"That's a very clear understanding, and that is what you expect from it.
"You expect that there will be the possibility to make a mistake. That's normal - that's nothing unusual.
"That was my first approach with Virgil Vries too, where I said, 'Absolutely, that can happen. Nothing wrong with it'.
"And then in the next games, one or two were good, and then we have seen that against Cape Town City you have another [keeping error]. And that should not happen.
"And that's where I came to the conclusion that that's difficult to accept.
"But at the moment [for Akpeyi] it's OK. It happens. We must accept it in the moment.
"And OK, he will play, he will start. And I hope he's mentally strong enough. It looks that way to me, and I am quite convinced that he knows that he has to do it in a proper way."
