Kaizer Chiefs interim coach Cavin Johnson has given a bizarre assessment of Itumeleng Khune’s honour after 25 years with the club.
The veteran goalie was honoured during the Chiefs’ 0-0 draw in the DStv Premiership against Polokwane City at FNB Stadium on Saturday for his diligent service at the club.
Khune came through the Amakhosi development ranks before gaining promotion to the senior team in the 2004/05 season. Khune spent five seasons with the development side before setting the record of 20 seasons with the first team.
During his excellent spell with Chiefs, Khune made over 350 appearances across all competitions for the Soweto giants. The 36-year-old won several trophies with the club.
The former Bafana Bafana international will see his contract with Kaizer Chiefs come to an end in June 2024. In the current campaign. This season, Khune has struggled for game time due to injuries and disciplinary issues.
JOHNSON EXPLAINS WHY CHIEFS SUPPORTERS DIDN’T COME IN NUMBERS TO HONOUR ITUMELENG KHUNE
While Khune is one of the best players to ever wear the Chiefs jersey, Johnson says the supporters didn’t come out in numbers to bid honour Khune because there are socio-economic factors like load-shedding and potholes.
“Regarding the supporters, when you look back at what we’ve been doing, we’re still one of the most supported teams in the PSL,” Johnson said.
“We expected to have more [supporters], but you look back at what’s happening in the country, there’s elections. People are saying let me go elect so that I can get SASSA more.
“So we’re facing a lot of competition within our sport, if we didn’t have that and they found out that Itu is being honoured, I’m sure our supporters would have been much more.
“But now they have to weigh their options, are they gonna close potholes or come watch Kaizer Chiefs? I would want to close the potholes because that for me is a lot and they have to think about those things. Our supporters are very important to us but they didn’t come out in numbers but like I always say, wherever we go, we always have the most supporters.”
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