Is he leaving or staying? That seems to be the burning question at Naturena around the future of veteran goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune over the last several weeks.
Despite Kaizer Chiefs announcing a year ago that their longest-serving player had been offered his final contract ahead of the 2023/24 sea- son, there have been no follow-up statements bidding him a genuine farewell.
Khune put pen to paper on a sea- son-long deal effective July 1 last year and was meant to have already said his goodbyes by now. However, Soccer Laduma has been informed the club's hierarchy are split on whether to let him go or not.
On paper, Khune, who will turn 37 next week, is out of contract at the end of this month. But the sudden move to label his last appearance of the campaign at FNB Stadium as a celebration of his service to Amakhosi for more than two decades caused confusion.
The player himself, when surprisingly given the microphone to speak following a hastily arranged "25 years of service" tribute, told the small crowd at Soccer City against Polokwane City that it was not his farewell match as the two parties were still to hold discussions.
According to sources in the know at Naturena, there has been a back and forth on whether Khune must be given a role within he club or continue to play for Chiefs. If offered a contract, then the club would be retracting their statement from last year, but the big conundrum is that Khune is not ready to retire. He has said so himself.
