Nigerian goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi is leaving a mark in securing Swallows FC's relegation escape that is just about sealed following last night's victory over Maritzburg United.
Swallows were 1-0 winners at Dobsonville Stadium moving up to 31 points with those three points which have all but secured their survival having been dragged near the mud in the two games prior when they picked up one point from six.
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Their move away from the drop zone has been given a boost by the experience of veteran goalkeeper Akpeyi.
The 36-year-old has played the last five league for Swallows keeping three clean sheets during which The Birds have collected a vital seven points from the 12 that have been available to play for since Musa Nyatama took over after Ernst Middendorp dumped them.
Akpeyi has pushed himself up the pecking order to the top to grab the first-choice jersey and has delivered performances that have been worth the wait that he endured in getting to be registered.
His three clean sheets have been against AmaZulu, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Maritzburg United while he conceded one against Golden Arrows and three away at Stellenbosch.
In only five games, Akpeyi already has half the clean sheets that Thakasani Mbanjwa has to his name from the 20 league games that he played before the Nigerian took over.
Mbanjwa was the first choice for most of this season conceding 26 goals from 20 league appearances and concerns grew after he conceded 10 in the last four games that he played.
With Akpeyi between the posts, Swallows have appeared stable.
The international experience gained from playing at the AFCON finals, CAF Champions League, and eight years in the PSL has been evident in Akpeyi, who trained with Swallows since September, but the club couldn't register him due to their FIFA transfer ban which was then lifted at the end of January.
Akpeyi didn't play any football last year with his last appearance while at Chiefs having come in December 2021.
He comes up against his former employers on Monday at Peter Mokaba Stadium in what will be the first time he faces the club that offloaded him in June last year.
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