The Citizen (Gauteng)

Kekana feels for ex-skipper

SAD: WOULD HAVE PREFERRED A PROPER FURMAN SEND-OFF

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Michaelson Gumede

SuperSport United defender Grant Kekana is disappoint­ed that the nationwide lockdown deprived him and his team-mates an opportunit­y to give former captain Dean Furman a proper send-off following his departure from the capital city-based club.

Furman opted not to extend his contract after serving United for five seasons and has already left for England where he is expected to further his career. Kekana described the Bafana Bafana midfielder’s exit from Matsatsant­sa A Pitori as a “big blow”.

“The sad part about it is that he did so much for the team, he has been a role model for all of us and it would have been fitting for us to give him a proper send- off but we must make do with what we have.

We wish him well for his future and I hope that everything works well for him. He made his decision by considerin­g his family and we must respect that,” said Kekana.

“It is a big blow, Dean is a great leader on and off the field, he is always first in everything so it is going to be a big loss in the dressing room. He always had this thing to get the guys going when things were down and he would humble us when we he thought we were getting big-headed,” he added, as he marks a decade at United where he has been playing as a regular under current head coach Kaitano Tembo in the past two seasons.

“When I first started at SuperSport, coach Kaitano was there as an assistant to head coach Gavin

Hunt, so we have come a long way. He understand­s me as a person, not only as a player and I try to give him everything every time he gives me a chance to play.

Kekana added: “SuperSport has made me grow as a player and as a person and I am forever grateful. The ultimate goal is to play for Bafana, it has always been a dream of mine to represent my country but one needs to work hard for it, I have to be consistent and just always hope for the best.”

 ?? Picture: Gallo Images ?? GRANT KEKANA
Picture: Gallo Images GRANT KEKANA

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