Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp hopes that Daniel Akpeyi can bounce back from his error against Polokwane City, as he will start in goal against Highlands Park on Saturday.

The Nigerian came in to replace the injured Itumuleng Khune in January after Virgil Vries couldn’t handle the pressure, resulting in some high-profile errorrs.

The former Chippa United man started well at Chiefs, but disaster struck as he let a howler slip past him in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Polokwane City.

The Glamour Boys will now face the dogged Lions of the North on Saturday, and the German coach has admitted he hopes his keeper has the right mentality to bounce back.

‘I hope he (Akpeyi) has the right mentality to bounce back and not get affected by it. You expect that there will be mistakes,’ Middendorp said to the media.

‘That was my approach with Virgil Vries too, where I said ”it can happen, nothing wrong with it, next game he plays again”,’explained the manager.

Middendorp insists he gave Vries enough opportunities to prove his worth, but after too many errors he had to act.

‘He (Vries) went one or two games and did well and then he made another mistake against Cape Town City, and that’s where I came to the conclusion that it’s difficult to accept… but for now we must accept it, and he will start again,’ continued the coach.

‘I am quite convinced that he (Akpeyi) will recover properly,’ concluded Middendorp.

Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix