The future of long-serving goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune is hanging in the balance with Kaizer Chiefs still yet to make a decision on his prospects at the club. Khune is locked in negotiations with the club’s bosses to secure another contract with the team he has served with aplomb for the past 25 years.
A decision is expected to be announced in the next few days and Khune may be forced to find another home if his contract is not renewed. Khune’s contract with the club expires today. He is 37 years old.
However, a well-placed informant has revealed that the crowd favourite still wants to play for another season or two for the Glamour Boys. A new goalkeeper trainer has been roped into the club by incoming head coach Nasreddine Nabi.
Former Mauritania national team goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi is at Naturena but he has not been able to assess the veteran Khune.
“Itu reported back to training this week with the rest of his teammates. He did not get a chance to work with the new goalkeeper coach yet as they were still doing their medicals and other tests,” an informant close to the events told Sunday World.
“He has not decided to retire, and he is hoping to continue playing for the club. But it is up to the club to decide if it is keeping him or not. It will be sad if they let him go or if he does not reach common ground with the Chiefs management.”
Amakhosi players and technical team members returned to training this past week after a six-week hiatus.
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, which elevates his name to that special group of the club’s legends such as Howard Freeze, Thabo Mooki, Teenage Dladla and Ace Ntsoelengoe, among others, who donned the Amakhosi jersey more than 400 times.
At the beginning of last season, Chiefs stressed that Khune was signing his final Chiefs contract as player. “Club captain, Itumeleng Khune, has been handed a new contract, which will see him play for Amakhosi for one final season, taking his professional career to two decades. While Khune will be involved in training and preparations for matches as a player, he will also use the season to broaden his technical acumen, as he transitions into a new coaching and ambassadorial role working with the marketing division at the club,” Chiefs said at the time.
Towards the end of last season, Chiefs honoured Khune for his 25 years of service when the club registered a 0-0 draw in a league match against Polokwane City. During the emotional tribute, Khune made it clear on SuperSport TV that the testimonial was just in recognition of his long service and not an indication that he was hanging up his gloves. “It’s not a farewell. The club didn’t say ‘we’re bidding farewell to Itumeleng Khune. I think we will go back, sit down and discuss the future. But for now, nothing has been confirmed yet,” he said.
Chiefs spokesperson Vina Maphosa didn’t reveal much when approached for comment.
“The transfers, the technical team and everything will be spoken about when everybody has returned. That is all I can say,” said Maphosa.
