Khune: Chiefs keepers need to share the load

WATCHING a Kaizer Chiefs game from the bench is “unfamiliar” territory for Amakhosi skipper and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, but he says he may very well have to get used to more of those moments this season.

It’s unlikely, however, that coach Giovanni Solinas will risk playing the Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates tomorrow afternoon without Khune between the sticks given his experience and personality – but rotation is now a normality for South Africa’s firstchoice keeper.

“He really doesn’t owe me an explanation when he leaves me out,” Khune said this week when asked about Solinas’ whimsical team selection.

The 31-year-old goalkeeper watched his deputy Virgil Vries get picked ahead of him when Chiefs beat Black Leopards, coincidentally on penalties with Vries being the hero, in the opening round of the Telkom Knockout last weekend.

Solinas then confirmed at the end of the game that in as much as Khune remains first choice, Vries, a Namibian international, would not be ignored.

“I agree with the coach,” Khune said. “If you have two international goalkeepers, why not rotate them? Even when the coach wanted to explain why he was putting me on the bench I said it wasn’t necessary because I am a professional player and have been for many years. But he said he was explaining it to me out of respect because he won’t just make a decision and not inform me.”

Khune himself says he would like to be challenged for the No 1 jersey, which would be new to him seeing that former Chiefs coach Steve Komphela seldom put him on the bench.

Brilliant Khuzwayo spent six years at Amakhosi and barely played 30 games during that period because he was playing second fiddle to Khune.

Khuzwayo joined Pirates as a free agent at the beginning of the season.

“If you count all competitions and the Caf tournament, we would have played over 50 matches – including international matches. So we need to share the load,” Khune said, adding that Solinas’ overall rotation policy was to enhance competition.

“We all go through that (not being guaranteed a starting spot), but it keeps us on our toes. I think if a player knows that he is going to play week in week out he ends up relaxing and not giving his all. What coach Solinas is doing we respect, it’s his philosophy,” said Khune.