*Undated
Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye is concerned the Soweto giants are struggling to take control of the games despite winning some of them.
Sunday’s 2-1 Premier Soccer League victory over SuperSport United came on the backdrop of a 4-0 win over Chippa United the previous weekend but Khanye is not pleased by Chiefs’ showing, especially in midfield. Coach Stuart Baxter started Njabulo Ngcobo, Phathutshedzo Nange and Anthony Akumu Agay in the middle of the park before introducing Kearyn Baccus, and Khanye felt the linkmen had little influence in the game.
“Chiefs coach must talk to his midfielders. Alexander Cole is there but for me, Agay is a no. Yes he played today [Sunday] but he is not a footballer,” said Khanye. While blasting Chiefs’ midfield, Khanye says the shortcomings in the middle were covered up by the team’s attack, especially the Khama Billiat-Keagan Dolly partnership.
Through a post on social media, Ex-Harambee Stars forward Boniface Ambani came to Akumu's rescue citing his own unwelcoming experience in the league over the past years. "Xenophobia runs deep into many south Africans. When you see those foreigners down south,they go through a lot. I once went for trials with Orlando Pirates,from Yanga FC Dar. The reception wasn't welcoming," said Ambani.
"Day 1 in training, could just tell me, I am going to have/get a hard time around. But I soldiered on. It was really frustrating when nobody could literally pass the ball to me in training. Only under difficult circumstances they could do. 30 minutes into training, the coach decided to play 11 aside just to gauge the players he had. 5 minutes into the session, I found myself on the ground. I had gone for an aerial ball, only one of the guys to come on me with guns blazing. I am down and no player comes for my help. I am bleeding, and they are laughing. I was rushed to the hospital. Seven stitches on my chin. On Teko Modise and Moeeneb Joseph,The Orlando Keeper followed me to the waiting van to say sorry."
"When I see such comments from one of them, Its not a surprise. After one week, I felt better, though I hadn't recovered well, went to training to check on them, the guy who seriously injured me wasn't even sorry. I just packed and left. The drama wasn't over yet. My check in luggage at the airport, those guys emptied it. Be cautious with your valuables in that city. Insecurity in SA is just on another level. Police shout-outs, Supermarket heists oooh no. Mpira sio lazima. Maisha Muhimu. SA's always feel nobody should come and take what is theirs and which they actually don't work for. It's a crazy county. Mimi hapo ndio tuliachana na Down South," explained Ambani. For 36 year old Junior Khanye, it all seems that Akumu was indeed not a right fit for Amakhosi. Khanye currently plays for Malanti Chiefs in the Swazi Premier League having earned only one cap for the South African National Side.
Akumu had joined the South African club in January 2020 after snubbing Belgian and Japanese clubs as well as continental heavyweights TP Mazembe. Seven months after failing to make it into Kenya's 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) squad, Akumu found himself signing for the Premier Soccer League (PSL) giants. Chiefs now prepare to host Stellenbosch at home in their next league match on November 2.