In celebration of Itumeleng Khune's birthday, we look back at one of his earliest career highlights when he helped Kaizer Chiefs win the Telkom Knockout Cup in 2007.
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The story
Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana legend Itumeleng Khune is celebrating his 38th birthday today, prompting us to relive a throwback to when he helped Amakhosi win the Telkom Knockout Cup in 2007 against Mamelodi Sundowns.
An emerging Khune arrived on the big stage in amazing style in that final, pulling off a masterclass with three saves in the penalty shootout.
After a painstaking 120 minutes of football, Khune emerged the hero in the 3-2 penalty shootout win over Masandawana, ousting his hero and Chiefs legendary shot-stopper, Brian Baloyi.
The highest-capped goalkeeper for Bafana Bafana built his legendary career as a one-club man at the Glamour Boys, spending over two decades at the club after joining as a youth player from the North West in 1999.
Khune captivated football fans with his exceptional reflex saves and impressive ball-playing skills (including his trademark 'distribution 101'), earning widespread adoration for both club and country.
Before Chiefs' recent success in the Nedbank Cup, the 37-year-old was the last goalkeeper to win silverware for the club, having secured both the league title and the MTN8 trophy during the 2014/15 season.
Overall, Khune, whose contract at Chiefs expired in July last year, won seven trophies at Amakhosi throughout his career, including three league titles and the 2012/13 PSL Footballer of the Year award.
Relive Khune's early career heroics in the 2007 Telkom Knockout final below:
Here's a look at what Khune has posted on Instagram for his special day, as well as some of the heartfelt tributes he's received so far:
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