Absa Premiership log leaders Kaizer Chiefs saw their title charge handed a dent when they were thrashed 3-1 by Bloemfontein Celtic at TUKS Stadium on Wednesday evening.
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This result saw the Glamour Boys concede a whopping six goals in just three outings since football action returned from recess due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite having been unstoppable between the posts before lockdown, goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi now seems to have dropped drastically in form for Chiefs.
Club veteran Itumeleng Khune’s absence from Ernst Middendorp’s squad in the past two matches continues to raise a lot of eyebrows, with the club remaining tightlipped on his whereabouts.
In fact, Khune has not featured for the Glamour Boys since their Nedbank Cup Round of 16 defeat to Highlands Park back in February.
“He [Itumeleng Khune] missed some training sessions because of different reasons. He was having some challenges and I don’t want to get into that,” Middendorp said at the time following the 1-1 draw against Bidvest Wits.
Recent reports has suggested that the Bafana Bafana shotstopper missed several training sessions for the Naturena outfit after been requested by German Bundesliga 2 outfit VFB Stuttgart to train with them for a few days for assessment during their recent visit to South Africa, a statement the club has strongly denied.
This has eventually led to Khune’s place in the team been taken up by youngster Bruce Bvuma, who has featured bit-part as cover for both Apeyi and Khune during the current term.
With Amakhosi still in pole position, leading the standings with six points over second-placed rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, and with five matches still to go, only time will tell if the Nigerian goalminder will continue to do duty for Chiefs, or if Khune will be roped in once ‘he is ready’.