Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter who has given all his goalkeepers a runout this season already, has explained why he rotated his shot stoppers so far.
After testing all of his four keepers this season already Baxter, though, has now opted to use Daniel Akpeyi in the few last games and says there is no reason to rotate at this stage.
However, the Englishman insisted that all the club’s shot-stoppers have a potential to be a number one.
“I don’t think you can take a philosophy and apply to every situation. I think the goalkeepers, if I’ve got a goalkeeper that outstandingly much better than others and next one is a 16-year-old then that’s a critical, a crystal clear situation but this one that we’ve got at Chiefs is far from that,” he told Andile Ncube on Radio2000.
“You’ve got four that are potentially number ones in the PSL. So you’re looking who is best for the job on that day, who has been training well, who is showing leadership qualities.
“And that can change because you’ve got competency issues, you’ve got technique issues so that can change if you want to call it philosophy, but my thinking around all four goalkeepers is that when one is doing really well, I’ll let him be.
“But if it’s obvious that he does not suit in our opponents, then I think I’ve got to be strong enough to make that change, and that’s how it is at Chiefs, and I’ve decided the goalkeepers are doing unbelievably well in embracing that philosophy.
“When one has to sit on the stands, there’s been no change, but one that sit on the bench he’s been supportive of the one that’s been chosen. And that has been independent of who has played and who has not played.
“I’m happy with goalkeepers. I will continue this same sort of rationale. As long as they work hard, stay humble, and give everything they have got for the club, they will get what they deserve.”
The 68-year-old tactician also confirmed that Nigerian international Daniel Akpeyi will continue as number one as long as he still gives his best.
“So Daniel got the shirt, and he’s doing well, and he will keep a shirt, unless there’s something that happens that tells me he’s absolutely not the right one to play in this game and one or the other,” Baxter added.
“He is just pretty showed up massively in training, and it’s obvious that he should play this game. So that’s going to be our philosophy. And I mean, to look further into it.”
