Nigeria and Kaizer Chiefs shot-stopper Daniel Akpeyi clinches best keeper award for month of September in South African Premier League
Nigeria goal keeper Daniel Akpeyi who mans the posts for South Africa power house Kaizer Chiefs have won player of the month for September and November after displaying eye-catching performances in last two months.
There is undoubtedly high competition in Chiefs’ goal-keeping department where former South Africa national team shot-stopper Itumeleng Khune and energetic Bruce Bvuma together with Akpeyi compete for the starting position.
But the Nigerian has proven his abilities ever since joining Chiefs edging past his competitors Khune and Bvuma to be Chiefs’ first choice this season.
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Last September and October was months of brilliance for the Nigerian, appearing as a new revelation not only for his club Chiefs but for the whole of the ABSA Premiership, registering four cleans sheets in five games between the two month.
Akpeyi award was announced just a day after keeping another clean sheet where his side triumph 4-0 over Stellenbosch at Cape Town.
After winning the award for his first time, the Nigerian said, “Every game I played prepared me for the next game. The games before the Sundowns match got me ready for that game. As a player you want to win important games – the game against Sundowns was an important one and it was a game I was delighted that we won”, he told Kaizer Chiefs official site.
After highlighting how games prepare him for another, he thanked his technical team and players, and highlighted the part they have played in his goal-keeping career.
“I want to thank the coaching crew, the head coach and our goalkeeper coach Lee Baxter. They were patient with me and helped me along the way. To all the players as well in the squad for being supportive and to my fellow goalkeepers, I would like to say our department has healthy competition because we push each other to be the best, I thank them as well.”
Akpeyi’s award doubles a good new for Kaizer Chiefs as clubs boss Ernst Middendorp was also named the best manager of months September and October after guiding Chiefs to four wins and only a defeat in five ABSA games. It’s Middendorp second award in a row.
