27 September 2019, by: Leonard Solms

Khune at a Crossroads, But Far From Finished

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. In the case of Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, this could hardly be more true.

Roughly a year ago, the Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper’s form was under the microscope after a shaky start to the 2018-19 season.

Then girlfriend Sbahle Mpisane was involved in a serious car accident in August last year, so life off the pitch may well have been even tougher than what he faced on it.

At the time, Khune received backing from his former team-mate, Rowen Fernández.

“It’ll be a while before he gets back to his full mental capacity because of the situation, but he’ll be back soon. He’s been in the game for too long to not be back,” Fernández said.

The former Arminia Bielefeld goalkeeper could not have predicted what was to happen next, but his words appear to have proven true.

Khune suffered a shoulder injury in December 2018 which kept him out for nine months. Although every minute on the sidelines must have been agonising, his absence might have been a blessing in disguise.

Kaizer Chiefs fans re-learned to appreciate Khune as they endured a goalkeeper crisis towards the end of last season. Virgil Vries made numerous blunders and neither Daniel Akpeyi nor Bruce Bvuma firmly cemented a grip on a starting spot.

However, things were looking up for Chiefs by the time Khune returned to the starting XI for Tuesday’s 2-0 win over AmaZulu at the King Zwelithini Stadium. Akpeyi has started this season in fine form while Bvuma is a far more experienced keeper than he was a year ago.

Chiefs are finally adequately prepared for a future without Khune. Even so, his relationship with the fans has hardly been better and they are not about to take his quality for granted any time soon after what they have endured.

In the Bafana Bafana setup, Ronwen Williams and Darren Keet have proven themselves more than capable of starting big games in goal. This is positive for the future of South African football, but again, Khune cannot be counted out of the race for a starting spot.

Given that the goalkeepers who have deputised for him at both club and national team level have stepped up well, Khune faces a significant challenge. However, he would do well to view this as cause for inspiration.

Over the past decade, Khune has made the starting goalkeeper’s spot his own at both Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs without any sustained challenge. Senzo Meyiwa’s tragic passing perhaps denied him a prolonged fight for his national team spot.

Much was expected when Khune burst onto the scene as a youngster, and for all his achievements, he perhaps hasn’t quite yet lived up to his potential. Even for one of the most experienced players in Kaizer Chiefs history, there are still more accolades to win.

And yet, partially because he is a goalkeeper, there is still time. At the age of 32, Khune has been reminded of how short a footballer’s career can be.

Given that he has already etched name in the history of South Africa’s most popular club, Khune could have been forgiven for struggling to find inspiration to push himself beyond his comfort zone.

He now faces a crossroads in his career which should force him to do just that.

When Khune is at peak form and consistency, it is difficult to leave him out of any starting lineup.

Having earned his stripes and more, the easy thing for him to do would be to go gently into the night. However, if he chooses instead to raise his game and silence any remaining critics one last time, we could be set for an incredible chapter in the history of South African goalkeeping.

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