Maduka defends Magesi No 1 Chipezeze amid claims of cup-only brilliance

Elvis Chipezeze has had a love affair with the Carling Knockout, having been voted by fans as the Player of the Match in all six games he has competed in. He also won the Player of the Tournament award last season. Those accolades earned him close to R1 million. He collected R600 000 in match-day prizes, plus an undisclosed amount for the Player of the Tournament award. Chipezeze's exploits between the sticks guided Dikwena Tsa Meetse to the crown last season when they beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in the final. However, their joy was short-lived this season, as they were eliminated from the competition by Orlando Pirates in the quarter-final. On his way to earning his record sixth Player of the Match award, Chipezeze made a fine start at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night, pulling off terrific saves in the first half. But he was eventually beaten by goals from Tshepang Moremi and Evidence Makgopa in the second half, before Lehlogonolo Lebone scored Magesi's consolation deep into stoppage time. Chipezeze's performances in the competition have continued to make headlines. However, some critics insist he performs better in this tournament because of the financial rewards attached to the Player of the Match award. That perception has suggested that the former Zimbabwean No 1 goalkeeper is not always at his best in other competitions, including the Betway Premiership, which is, ironically, Chipezeze and Magesi's bread and butter. Magesi coach John Maduka has dismissed the notion that Chipezeze chooses when to perform, saying he has been one of their standout players this season. "He has done well for the team. In cup games, we knew he wanted us to win, but he's also been very good in the league games," Maduka said. "He's been an important player for us. Without focusing only on the cup, I think he has helped us a lot in the league. Congratulations to him -- he was the Player of the Match in the first game we played as well. "We're happy that he's been able to achieve that, and we hope he continues to help us going forward in the league." While Maduka argues that Chipezeze has been consistent across all competitions, his league numbers tell a different story. He has conceded 14 goals in just nine league games, and 18 in all competitions. Still, with the former Warriors No 1 as captain of the Dikwena Tsa Meetse team, Maduka continues to stand by him, using his first-half heroics against Pirates as an example of his invaluable contribution. "I am so proud of him. If you look at the game, he helped us a lot, especially in the first half," Maduka said. "We had to sort out some areas later, but having Chipezeze in the team -- and as captain -- he has shown he's a real leader."