Chiefs coach hints at goalkeeper change for Soweto derby

Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp could not hide his disappointment after goalkeeper Virgil Vries made a costly mistakes.


Vries failed to make a routine save in a league match against Cape Town City, leading to a winning goal for the visitors.

The Namibian international has conceded 10 goals since Itumeleng Khune was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Middendorp came to Vries’ defence a few times after Chiefs lost to Zesco United in the Caf Champions league. But the German mentor is looking to give another goalkeeper a chance after Wednesday night’s error from Vries.

The 60-year-old says he understands why Amakhosi fans are frustrated with Vries and made it clear that the goal minder was costing the team points, adding that defending his mistakes will not solve the club’s problems.

“I’m not sitting here and [defending the mistake], of course I’m not happy with it. It’s happened now for the second time, what must we say?,” said Middendorp in the post-match interview.

“We have to work it out in the next 10 days and see who is in the goalpost in the next Saturday [against Orlando Pirates]. It’s nice to protect players, which is what we are doing, but on the other hand you must be capable. It was an easy punch, an easy way to handle this and that’s it.”

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