Akumu most likely to make Chiefs debut this weekend

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Ernst Middendorp has confirmed that newly-signed Kenyan international midfielder Anthony Akumu is most likely to make his debut for the club during the Nedbank Cup last 32 match against Royal Eagles this weekend.

The two teams will meet at the FNB Stadium at 18:00 on Saturday as Amakhosi come up against the relegation-threatened Glad Africa Championship side.

Middendorp has also revealed that Zimbabwean international attacker Khama Billiat will return to action this weekend.

In the past, Chiefs has struggled against teams from lower divisions in this tournament, last season they lost in the final to another team from the First Division, TS Galaxy.

Middendorp didn’t want to be reminded about what happened last season.

This will be a meeting between the Absa Premiership log leaders and the First Division bottom dwellers.

Usually, PSL clubs use this competition to give fringe players a chance, especially when they come up against lower-division opponents but Middendorp has got different approaches altogether. He says he will field the core of his squad.

Billiat has been out of action since December 2019 and his injury rehabilitation has taken longer than anticipated. Middendorp expanded on Tuesday on the reasons behind this.

– Report by Velile Mnyandu