As Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune faces a pivotal career decision, 45min.co.za explores whether the club has presented Khune with an ultimatum and whether the veteran goalkeeper can afford to follow his heart.
Khune’s last contract with Chiefs ended on a sour note. The 37-year-old was suspended and stripped of his captaincy in December last year for allegedly breaching the club’s code of conduct.
Despite this, he was given a chance to play in the Carling Black Label Cup‘s All Star XI, an exhibition match against Stellenbosch in January, but failed to secure regular game time afterward. His next appearance came in May, when he was brought on as a substitute in a match against Polokwane City, a symbolic gesture marking his 25 years with the club.
Read: Stellenbosch Rejects Chiefs’ R10 Million Bid for Basadien: Here’s Why
Currently without a contract, Khune is reportedly still in discussions with Chiefs about his future role. According to sources, he has been offered a position in the Marketing department, which would come with a pay cut. The offer seems to be a take-it-or-leave-it situation, putting Khune in a tough spot.
Non-playing roles at big clubs can be a tough pill to swallow for players who believe they still have something to offer on the pitch. A similar situation occurred with Happy Jele at Orlando Pirates in June 2022. After making over 400 appearances, Jele was offered a non-playing role at the age of 35, which he turned down, feeling he still had more to contribute on the field.
Khune has publicly stated that he believes he can still play for a few more years. Whether he accepts Chiefs’ offer in the Marketing department may depend on whether there are other clubs in the PSL interested in his goalkeeping skills and if he’s willing to leave the club he has served for 25 years.
The Glamour Boys might want to leverage Khune’s popularity with fans, but is that what Khune truly wants for the next chapter of his career?
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