Amakhosi face Khuzwayo poser
GOALKEEPER NOT GETTING GAME TIME
He is considered by many to be the second-best goalkeeper in the Absa Premiership. But 28-year-old Nhlanhla Khuzwayo, better known as “Brilliant”, has spent almost the entire PSL season twiddling his thumbs on the Kaizer Chiefs bench as top Bafana Bafana and Amakhozi keeper Itumeleng Khune has made the position his own at both club and national level.
The situation has left both Chiefs and Khuzwayo with a dilemma, with no immediate solution to the problem.
After all, you can’t field two goalkeepers on the pitch and with Amakhosi struggling to assert themselves, coach Steve Khompela is understandably reluctant to experiment.
It seems Khuzwayo’s contract is due to expire at the end of the season and this could make him a free agent – although it is clear the agile and often brilliant goalkeeper has no burning desire to leave Chiefs and seek fame and fortune with another club.
But the reality of the situation is that Khuzwayo cannot fulfill his ingrained talent by remaining on the bench indefinitely and he might have to face the reality of the situation by seeking greener pastures elsewhere.
And this is where Chiefs great rivals Orlando Pirates have come into the picture, with rumours rife that the Buccaneers have more than a casual interest in securing the services of the benched goalkeeper.
There are several other PSL clubs who would also pay good money to sign Khuzwayo, but at this point the betting moguls are putting their money on a cross-transit Soweto signing ending the impasse.
Incidentally, the Khuzwayo goalkeeping dilemma is not unique. In the English Premier League, Arsenal have two worldclass goalkeepers and manager Arsene Wenger has eased the situation by allocating each to different competitions.
But in Chiefs’ present situation this is unlikely to be the answer.