I want to retire at Chiefs
Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune says he never wanted to leave the club in the first place
HE watched on TV as Kaizer Chiefs announced that they would not be renewing his contract, but Itumeleng Khune claims he knew he would be a Chiefs player this season despite the controversy which surrounded contract negotiations.
The goalkeeper says he never wanted to leave Amakhosi and wants to retire at the club.
Khune feels his demands were fair but says the confusion was created by his agent, overseas-based Dich Lichman, before he returned to sign a deal said to be for five years after meetings with management.
“The agent was communicat- ing with the club at times and he was not filling me in. I think that’s where the confusion came from because the club was speaking to me and I was speaking to the agent so that the agent could speak to the club. Some of the messages were not conveyed or they were not communicated properly and that’s what led to this confusion,” said Khune, whose demands were apparently too much for even Mamelodi Sundowns, according to coach Pitso Mosimane.
“I remained calm because I knew where my fate was. My fate was with Chiefs. I think some of the reporters misled the public and I think the club read too much into that and that is when they made the decision to release me. It came as a shock. I was watching TV until the announcement was made at 9am. After that, I said that means I have to find a new home, but that was not my plan from day one. My plan all along was to stay with Chiefs.”
He added: “People might say I left the club, but if I had left I was going to go on trial some- where. I would have signed with someone else, but I stayed calm. I went to the club and reminded them that it’s not the first time we find ourselves in this situation. I am still hungry. I won’t be complacent. I am happy and I want to retire here. My work ethic is the same.”
When it was announced that Khune would be released and that Amakhosi would not break the bank to renew his contract, some fans attacked the leading goalkeeper on social media.
“I was getting direct messages saying I was greedy. If I was greedy, then why didn’t the people I sent my proposals to expose me?” he asked. “Then everyone would have seen how greedy or selfish I was.
“For the contribution I have made in this country, a player like me needs to be rewarded.”
He went on: “To be honest, a lot of my teammates played a huge role after the statement was made that I was released. They made me realise how important I am in this team and how important the fans are and everyone else in this family.
“Those are the things that clicked in my head and I felt why should I go elsewhere and start all over again? Yes, goalkeepers mature with age, but to go and start all over again at age 28 does not make sense.”
When he finally went back to Naturena, he had a talk with the chairman, Kaizer Motaung.
“I met the chairman. We are glad everything is back to normal. I am grateful for the opportunity to play for the club.”
Khune, who is back in Amakhosi’s starting lineup, has dreamt of playing overseas, but those dreams have been dashed.
“It [going overseas] was an option. But I felt like overseas clubs take players from South Africa and Africa for granted. I’m a good example of that.
I remained calm because I knew where my fate was. My fate was with Kaizer Chiefs For the contribution I have made in this country, a player like me needs to be rewarded
There were those who heard I was free. They approached my agent and they gave us offers, but via WhatsApp. Not even a single e-mail,” he said.
“I don’t want to discourage anyone, but I am just saying a lot of players should learn from people like me who decide to stay at home instead of going where you are not needed or won’t be appreciated.”
Khune says he’s happy for former teammates Tefu Mashamaite and Mandla Masango, who are in Europe.
“They must fly the flag high. I am meeting Mandla in the Bafana camp, so it will be nice to share his experience.”