Á legendary former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper has weighed in on the developments involving Itumeleng Khune at the club.
After so much speculation about Khune's future as his contract was nearing an end, Chiefs confirmed on Friday that the experienced shot-stopped signed a new one-year deal.
The Soweto giants confirmed that the deal was the last one for the Ventersdorp-born star as a player, with the other plans being made for him to serve in a different role at the club in years to come beyond his professional career.
Legendary ex-Chiefs goalkeeper Joseph 'Banks' Setlhodi says Khune is still very much important for the club.
The Good
"He has been a loyal servant of Kaizer Chiefs. If you remember very well, Khune has been with the club from a very tender age. He has made his mark at the club. There have been times when the chips were down for the club and he stood head and shoulders above the rest for the team. There are many things that the up and coming players can learn from Itumeleng Khune. He is a legend by right despite his tender age because usually we call players legends after a certain age. Itumeleng still has so much to offer at Chiefs, in my opinion. Let me tell you this, each and every goalkeeper at Kaizer Chiefs is not at ease when Itumeleng is there. Itumeleng is always ready for the opportunity to play and he can play the whole season next season, who knows? Goalkeepers mature with age and the more they age the more they get experience. They younger goalkeepers at the club should learn from Itumeleng because he has been so consistent for so many years. When it comes to playing, Itumeleng is the face of Kaizer Chiefs as we speak. Each and every player that comes to Chiefs, the first thing that they need to do is to look at Itumeleng for inspiration. He is highly recognised more than any player that is there," said Setlhodi.
The Bad
"What disrupted Itumeleng over the years has been the injuries. When you get older and having played so many games, injuries are bound to happen. He is a different kind of a goalkeeper and he was not like myself. Itumeleng is too physical and he will dive and make breathtaking saves. I was a positional goalkeeper and I didn't do much of diving and things like that. That's why I didn't get so many injuries and that's the difference between myself and him," he said.
The Ugly
"In my career, I didn't get too many injuries. I once broke my leg when I was still an infield player in those days. But as a goalkeeper, I never got any injuries. I broke my shin and I had to fly to Cape Town to have it treated. I was in Cape Town in a private clinic for three months while having my leg treated. For almost five years from 1970 to 1975 I was playing right through as the number one goalkeeper for Chiefs," he concluded.
