Khune’s camp confident of Chiefs stay

Despite a lack of game-time and an obvious drop in the Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeping pecking order, the Siya crew has been led to believe that Itumeleng Khune’s future at Naturena remains intact – but that said, things can still change.

The veteran was handed a twoyear contract by the club in July last year as Amakhosi ushered in a new era of sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jnr, head of technical Molefi Ntseki and coach Stuart Baxter, who returned for a second spell.

And when Khune got the nod as the first-choice keeper in the club’s opening game of the 2021/22 season in the MTN8 against Mamelodi Sundowns, it looked as though he’d finally clawed his way back after being sidelined by Gavin Hunt the season before.

Soccer Laduma has it on good authority that Hunt, who was sacked in May, had requested the club offload Khune, who joined them aged 13 and is now 34.

Given the relationship between Baxter and Khune, from the Englishman’s previous spell, the assumption was that he would again be his No.1 goalie.

However, the cup game against

Downs in August was the last time Khune played an official match, with Daniel Akpeyi preferred and then later Brandon Petersen emerging as Baxter’s go-to goalkeeper.

Taking all of that into account, the Siya crew has been told by those in Khune’s camp that the veteran remains an important part of the club going forward, with a role in management a possibility when he does hang up his gloves!

Chiefs have a history of employing their icons, like Ace Khuse, Doctor Khumalo, Arthur Zwane and Brian Baloyi, who was a goalkeeper coach at the club.