David Atanga, currently playing for KV Oostende, has spoken out in defense of Lawrence Ati-Zigi amidst ongoing criticism directed at the St Gallen goalkeeper.

Ati-Zigi, who has faced scrutiny for his performances with the Ghana national team, has found support from Atanga, who believes his former teammate is a skilled goalkeeper deserving of recognition.

In an interview with Mothers FM, Atanga urged fans not to judge Ati-Zigi solely based on statistics, arguing that they do not fully reflect the goalkeeper's true abilities and contributions on the field.

Atanga emphasized, "Ati-Zigi has received a lot of criticism from some football fanatics. He has been labelled as a subpar goalkeeper by many. Truth be told, Ati-Zigi is not a bad goalkeeper."

Drawing parallels with top goalkeepers like Manuel Neuer, Atanga highlighted that even the best can have off days or make occasional mistakes.

He encouraged critics to observe Ati-Zigi's performances at his club to form a more informed opinion about his capabilities, stressing that judgment should not rely solely on statistical outcomes.

Reflecting on their time playing together at Salzburg, Atanga praised Ati-Zigi's versatility and emphasized his effectiveness as a goalkeeper.

He noted, "Ati-Zigi is a very good goalkeeper; there is just a lot of pressure when playing for Ghana. In our last two games against Mali and Central Africa Republic, our defenders underperformed, and the goalkeeper was blamed."

Ati-Zigi has been Ghana’s first-choice goalkeeper since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, briefly losing his position to Richard Ofori during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations but subsequently reclaiming it.

Atanga's defense underscores his belief in Ati-Zigi's capabilities and seeks to mitigate unwarranted criticism directed at the goalkeeper.