‘I was in bed for 2 straight weeks crying’; Itumeleng Khune on Chiefs situation
Former Kaizer Chiefs captain Itumeleng Khune has disclosed that he spent two straight weeks in bed crying after learning that the club would not renew his contract.
The legendary Khune was speaking on the sidelines of his Topbet announcement. Khune is a shareholder in the betting company and is charting a new pathway as an entrepreneur.
His contract with Chiefs expired in June, and the club made it clear that he was not part of their future plans as a player. While the PSL giants offered him the opportunity to consider his next career move within the Chiefs set up or leave entirely, Khune has yet to respond with a decision.
The veteran goalie opened up about the emotional turmoil he endured after the club informed him that his contract would not be renewed. The revelation came as a shock to many, given Khune’s iconic status and unwavering dedication to the club.
‘IT WASN’T EASY TO DIGEST’: ITUMELENG KHUNE
“To be quite honest, I can’t control how I feel the next morning,” he said. “I always wake up feeling different, especially the first couple of weeks after I had meetings with the club [Chiefs management].
“It wasn’t easy for me to digest the news. I stayed in bed I think two straight weeks crying everyday not understanding what is happening.”
The goalkeeper, who has been a stalwart for Chiefs for over a decade, expressed his desire to continue playing beyond the age of 40, citing examples of legendary goalkeepers like Egypt’s Essam El-Hadary and Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon.
“The problem is you’re never prepared for such things when they do happen,” he explained. “You know, we have this mentality that it won’t happen to me. Like I’ve been saying that I want to play until I’m 40 plus, and I’ve used references, I’ve used El-Hadary from Egypt, I’ve used Buffon from Italy. And there’s still [examples] in our own league.
“[Locally] we have Denis Onyango, you have Washington Arubi. So hence, I’m saying I’m not writing anything off. It’s still possible. I still love the game, I’m still passionate about the game, hence now I’m keeping myself fit.”
While Khune acknowledged the club’s decision, he admitted that it was difficult to accept. “I was given the respect to have a sit-down with the club and hear their plans. But it was still hard to hear that I wasn’t part of their future as a player,” he shared.
HOW ITUMELENG KHUNE IS KEEPING FIT
Despite the setback, Khune remains hopeful. He continues to maintain his fitness through indoor soccer and five-a-side matches, ready to seize any opportunity that may arise.
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