Harambee Stars midfielder Anthony Akumu has struggled to impress the fans at his new club Kaizer Chiefs since joining in January.

But Amakhosi assistant coach Shaun Bartlett has backed the midfielder saying he needs more time to hit the ground running in South Africa.

The 27 year-old Akumu has failed to command a starting place in Ernst Middendorp’s team but his assistant remains positive that the Kenyan is the player for the future.

“Akumu I think, for me Anthony Agay he will take a bit of time, you know coming in, in the middle of the season, coming in the games under pressure,” Bartlett is quoted by the Far Post.

“It is always going to be difficult and I think the speed of the game as well sometimes you underestimate when you watch from maybe another country.

“You watch the PSL and say ‘I can go play there’ but once you start playing the matches you actually realise that it is not as easy as you thought it would be.”

“So, I think he will take a bit of time but we know we’ve got a player for the future that can do well for this club but as long as obviously he just applies whatever the technical team wants.”

Akumu turned down a contract extension with Zambian Champions Zesco United to become the first Kenyan player to sign for Kaizer chiefs penning a three year contract.

The PSL is currently suspended due to the coronavirus with Kaizer Chiefs leading the table on 48 points, ahead of defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns who are 4 points behind but have a game in hand.