With a career-defining decision beckoning on Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, Soccer Laduma analyzes whether Chiefs have offered Khune an ultimatum and can the veteran shot-stopper afford to follow his heart?
Khune had an anti-climax to his last contract at Chiefs after he was suspended and stripped of his captaincy following reports that he broke the club's code of conduct in December last year.
In his last year of his contract, the 37-year-old goalkeeper seemingly ruined his playing chances, despite being given an opportunity in the Carling Black Label Cup's All Star XI, that was voted by fans, in an exhibition game against Stellenbosch in January.
Khune would only get his next official game in May, as a substitute against Polokwane City, as a gesture in honour of his 25 years at the club, after a ceremony prior to that game.
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However, the former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper finds himself without a contract, with reports emerging that he is still in talks with the club on what his next role would be.
As previously reported by the Siya crew, the veteran shot-stopper has been offered a role in the Marketing department, which would come with a salary cut. The report further states that it's either Khune accepts it or he would have to leave the club.
Non-playing roles are not popular with players at big clubs who are used to earning big money, especially if they feel they still have a couple of years to offer on the pitch.
Happy Jele, after 400 appearances at Orlando Pirates, appeared heartbroken, after only being offered a non-playing role at the end of contract in June 2022, which he did not take at the age of 35, as he felt he still had more to offer on the field.
"When the Chairman [Irvin Khoza] invited me to his office to offer me a non-playing position, I was humbled but at the same time shocked, as I personally wasn't ready to take off the badge as yet," Jele said in his statement at the time.
"Yes, I was offered an opportunity in non-playing staff and I gracefully expressed my desire to play for another season or two before I hang up my boots," the former skipper's statement read, in part, explaining why he rejected the role.
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Khune has always made it clear publicly that he feels he has a few more years to play in goal and his decision to take up Chiefs' reported offer in the Marketing department could depend on which clubs would be interested in his services as a goalkeeper in the PSL and whether he has the guts to leave the club he served for 25 years.
The Glamour Boys could look to capitalize on the Ventersdorp-born shot-stopper's popularity with the fans but would it be against Khune's own wishes?
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