Daniel Akpeyi of Kaizer Chiefs (Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix)
Some Chiefs, who were clearly not aware that Khune was injured, were not happy that the Nigerian international came on for the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper and started booing him.
“I want to dedicate this [award] to myself because that’s the only true supporter I have,” Akpeyi told SuperSport TV.
“I have been thrown sh*t at but there’s only one person that keeps me standing.”
“Like coach Lee [Baxter] always say, ‘You have to prepare for every game whether you on the bench or not, you have to prepare for it’. So, I actually prepare for every game and when Itu [Khune] was going through what he was going through on the field, I made up my mind that I’m going to come in and let it be like nothing happened; that is the confidence I came into the field with,” he said.
“And I also want to say to the players who fought tooth and nail throughout… they deserve an award as well and to God be the glory.”
Akpeyi added that he was not worried about the booing Chiefs supporters because he motivates himself.
“I’m a big goalkeeper. No matter [what] is being thrown at me, I just have to take it and use it as a stepping stone to get to the next level – that’s the confidence I came into the field with. So, my teammates, were actually encouraging me when I was entering the field, it’s because they have confidence in me as well,” he added.
“So, I think the result works generally well for the team and thankfully we have the three points to stay on top.”
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