So this morning I asked those who follow me on Twitter what their feelings were towards Itu being on the verge of securing a move back to Kaizer Chiefs.
The response was overwhelmingly negative. And maybe more worrying for Itu is that most of those who said bad things seemed to be Kaizer Chiefs supporters. The vitriol ranged from people questioning his loyalty to being called a money chaser with dollar signs in his eyes.
Now while we football fans are a passionate lot, possibly because we don't get to change who we support just because we are not paid enough and don't usually get wooed to the opposition camp because they are recruiting us so to speak. Who live by - Once a Pirate always a Pirate and Amakhosi for Life! It can be very very difficult to understand how our heroes can one day be kissing the badge and the next be patting their wallet asking for more please.
That said, I'm not so sure one can blame Itu for wanting more or trying to get the best possible deal for himself. Football is a short career. At any time an injury can end it all. For most players there is a five to eight year window to make as much money as possible so as to set themselves up for life. Itu as captain of his country, as a massive marketing machine for his club does have a right to ask for more. The same way Wayne Rooney has asked for more or threatened leaving Manchester United, the same way Ronaldo or Messi continually ask for more despite being wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. These players, despite earning astronomical figures, numbers that baffle the rest of us, are only trying to cash in while they still can. It is no different to the PSL fully understanding their worth to a TV network and so asking for massive money in return for their TV rights with certain individuals getting huge sums of money.
So before casting stones at Khune, before making his return a misery - remember that here is a player who has worked extremely hard to get himself to the top of the pile of an industry where very few people succeed - and so to a certain degree it can be argued he was only asking for the kind of money he felt he was worth which he is fully entitled to do.
