Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana legend Itumeleng Khune has explained why he still believes he is the best goalkeeper in South African football.
Even in a strong field of current PSL goalkeepers, only a few names command as much respect in South African football as Khune.
The talented pool of SA goalies includes Ronwen Williams, whose recent achievements have been remarkable. The Mamelodi Sundowns captain has garnered significant acclaim. In 2024, he became the first South African nominated for the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d’Or.
He further solidified his standing by winning the African Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year and the Interclub Player of the Year at the CAF Awards.
Notably, Williams captained Bafana Bafana to their first AFCON medal since 2000, securing five clean sheets in seven games and earning the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award.
Despite Williams’ extraordinary success, Khune maintains his belief that he remains Mzansi’s No.1 goalkeeper. Khune, a Bafana legend, boasts 91 caps, placing him second on the all-time list. For a decade, he was Bafana’s undisputed number one.
A veteran who played in the 2013 AFCON finals and the 2010 World Cup, Khune enjoyed a trophy-laden career with Chiefs, consistently delivering exceptional performances at both club and national levels until later in his career.
However, Khune has been without a club since parting ways with Amakhosi at the end of last season, as his contract was not renewed. Chiefs offered Khune a position in their marketing and commercial department, but he reportedly turned it down, expressing his desire to play.
Since leaving the Chiefs, Khune has been working as a football analyst for SABC Sport and an ambassador for the betting company TopBet, of which he is also a shareholder.
ITU KHUNE RANKS HIMSELF 1, BUMPS WILLIAMS IN NEDBANK BLIND CHALLENGE
During a Nedbank Cup Sport blind challenge, Khune was asked to rank five of South Africa’s top goalkeepers, with the names hidden. After initially placing Williams in the number one spot, Khune’s own name was revealed as the final goalkeeper. Without hesitation, he moved Williams to second place and asserted himself as the best.
“I’ve worked hard, won trophies, and made my mark in South African football. I respect all the other great keepers on the list, but I’ve earned my place at number 1,” said Khune when asked why he ranked himself as SA’s best.
Khune concluded his ranking of SA’s top five goalkeepers with Denis Onyango of Sundowns in third place, while ex-Orlando Pirates’ Moeneeb Josephs was fourth. Magesi FC captain Elvis Chipezeze rounded out the top five.
Meanwhile, Khune understands the prestige of the Nedbank Cup, having lifted the trophy with Chiefs in 2013.
As a key figure in the Nedbank Cup’s ‘Goals vs. Saves’ competition, Khune champions the vital role of goalkeepers as they deliver game-changing saves throughout the tournament. Every save made by goalkeepers in this year’s Nedbank Cup contributes significantly to the JustSave prize pool, with each save adding R10,000. Similarly, every goal scored boosts the MiGoals Plus prize pool by R20,000.
The thrilling action on the field has already propelled the combined prize pool to a remarkable R2.6 million! This substantial sum will be distributed among registered MiGoals Plus and JustSave account holders participating in the ‘Goals vs. Saves’ competition. And with the tournament advancing towards the final, the potential winnings continue to escalate.
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