Kaizer Chiefs are planning to offer veteran goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune a role in the development structures but Sunday World understands that the 37-year old still has to make a decision on whether to accept or find another home.
Khune is said not to be in the new coach’s plans and was left behind for the off-season trip to Turkey.
Chiefs officially announced the signing of new coach Nasreddine Nabi, who arrived with his technical team. Nabi joined the travelling team in Turkey after his final match for Moroccan club AS FAR last Sunday. Nabi also confirmed his goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi, who replaced Rainer Dinkelacker, who has gone back to Germany.
Chiefs posted pictures of Mzoughi with his three goalkeepers Bruce Bvuma, Brandon Peterson and young Karabo Molefe, which serves as a veiled confirmation that Khune will not be part of the goalkeeping squad going forward.
“Khune is caught up in two minds and he has a very difficult decision to make. He has been offered a position in the development structures, it’s either he takes up that position or he leaves the club and ruins a 25-year-old legacy he has built with Amakhosi,” said an informer close to the events.
“He was one of the biggest earners in the country and he will have to take a massive salary cut if he joins the development academy. Another choice is to leave the club he loves with his whole heart and to look for another home elsewhere. This will be more painful for him because if he leaves, he will end a legacy and it will be very difficult for him to go back to Chiefs when he finally retires if he breaks the 25-year spell he’s had with the club.
“It is not clear as to what role he will play in the development structures but one thing for sure is that he will not form part of the first team anymore. The ball is in his court to decide the way forward and everybody is waiting for him,” said the informant.
Chiefs marketing manager Jessica Motaung said the club would make an announcement regarding Khune’s future in the coming weeks. “We are having discussions with him and he is part of the family. After 25 years he is like a little brother to me. We are discussing what opportunities are available for him.”
Khune was a star goalkeeper for Bafana Bafana, where he amassed an impressive 91 caps, including appearances in the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
The Ventersdorp-born star made his PSL debut for the Amakhosi aged 20, in a league match against Jomo Cosmos in August 2007. He was promoted to the Chiefs first team during the 2004/5 season. Since then, he has made more than 425 appearances for the club. Khune’s agent Thato Matuka said his client was still applying his mind and will make a decision soon.
He has served his playing years with aplomb and as a supporter, I’m so proud of him. I believe that he needs to consider the offer that’s given to him by the club, like Gerald Sibeko and Thabo Mooki, just to name those two.
In hope he does not do the mistake Jele did at Pirates,there will be growth at Chiefs,no matter where he starts.Look at the likes of Sibeko,he looks happy at Chiefs.
I hope he take that offer in the development ranks & grow with it. He might 1 day be first team goalkeeper coach at Kaizer Chiefs