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Cape Town - Legendary Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brian Baloyi believes Itumeleng Khune should be between the sticks for his former side when they take on Orlando Pirates in the Soweto derby this weekend.
Amakhosi head coach Ernst Middendorp said recently that Daniel Akpeyi will be his first-choice shot-stopper for league matches while Khune will start in the Cup games.
Chiefs though were knocked out of the Nedbank Cup on Saturday by Highlands Park and Middendorp now has to decide if Khune should return in goal for the remaining 10 league matches as the log leaders chase the PSL title.
Baloyi, who was known as 'Spiderman' to Amakhosi fans for his acrobatic saves, has always rated Khune as the best keeper in South Africa and feels he should regain his place as the Chiefs number one after fully recovering from his injuries.
In quotes published on KickOff, Khune said: "Ja with that one you know I'm going to be bias, you know Khune is my boy.
"I'm going to stick with him. The Derby at this stage needs experience more than anything.
"For me the more there's doubts about who's number one at Chiefs, the more it destabilises the team.
"The coach and staff should find a better way of resolving this issue and talk about it, instead of just dismissing it."
Baloyi explained that he is not trying to discredit anything that Akpeyi has done for the Glamour Boys this season but feels Khune's superior distribution skills can be used a weapon against the Buccaneers.
"Akpeyi has been doing well, but not well enough to say he's number one, not well enough to say... when you look at the past derby, he was at fault for maybe two goals," added Baloyi.
"And when you say you need other options for the team to play, Khune can give you those options with the distribution.
"So I think the team should be looking at using his experience in the game.
"It might be very controversial to say who's going to play, but if it were me I would play Khune, if I were the coach."
The Soweto derby is scheduled to be played at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
- TEAMtalk media
