OPINION: Three reasons why Kaizer Chiefs should renew Khune’s contract
It is only a handful of players in South African football that give meaning to the sports cliche: ‘form is temporary, and class is permanent like Kaizer Chiefs’ Itumeleng Khune does.
Khune is still a good goalkeeper. And he proved it several times this season. He turned back the hands of time when he pulled off two penalty saves against Stellenbosch FC in the 2022/23 MTN8 quarterfinals.
In addition, the former SA’s No.1 produced an excellent display versus Golden Arrows in January 2023, walking away with the DStv Premiership Man of the Match award.
With Khune’s contract with Kaizer Chiefs expiring at the end of the current season in June 2023, FARPost writer Mauwane Raophala looks at three reasons why Amakhosi should renew the goalie’s contract.
It goes without a doubt that Amakhosi’s skipper is one of the most talented goalies to ever grace the PSL. His excellent distribution, fast reflexes and strong punching make him stand out.
THREE REASONS WHY AMAKHOSI SHOULD KEEP KHUNE
1. He has set a role
At this moment, Itumeleng Khune serves as a role model to many players at the club.
A player like Khune represents what it means to be a Chiefs player having joined the club at a very young age of 12.
He understands the club’s culture, and the Soweto giants cannot afford to throw away such kind of experience so that the upcoming players can learn from him.
To add to that, the Glamour Boys wouldn’t want to do the same mistake that their arch-rivals did with Happy Jele, who spent 16 years with the Buccaneers and let him go when this campaign commenced.
2. His good relationship with coach Arthur Zwane
Since Arthur Zwane took over the coaching reigns at Chiefs, he has supported the shot-stopper consistently. The coach has backed Khune and spoke about how vitally important the veteran goalkeeper is to his side.
LACK OF TIME A CONCERN, BUT…
Despite Khune’s lack of game time at Chiefs, ‘10111’ has maintained his affection for his captain and has built a good relationship.
Khune has managed to play 11 games across all competitions under the tutelage of Zwane. In those 11 matches, he conceded 10 goals and kept two clean sheets in the process.
3. Kaizer Chiefs need Khune to be on the rise
Khune is one player at Chiefs who knows what it means to win titles. Since joining Amakhosi, he has won 12 titles, including the Premiership.
Ideally, the club would want him to become the goalkeeper coach in the near future.
Interestingly, the veteran goalie, Khune, has taken a step closer to a pathway into goalkeeper coaching as he attended the FIFA/SAFA goalkeeper coaching course in June 2022.
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