As Kaizer Chiefs assess their squad sources and necessities over the following six months, it shouldn’t be forgotten that iconic keeper Itumeleng Khune will see his present contract coming to an finish in the course of subsequent 12 months.
Back in July 2021, Khune was one of many 5 Amakhosi gamers who have been provided contract extensions, with the veteran keeper signing a brand new two-year deal at the moment.
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Many thought that may be the final contract for Khune, who was even requested that query again then.
“Is this my last contract at the club? That will be up to the club to decide,” Khune responded to such a question in mid-2021. “I’m really grateful for yet another opportunity that I’ve been given by the club, but I don’t know whether it will be my last. It will depend on what I still have to give on the pitch.”
Fast ahead to the current, and not too long ago Khune has spoken out about a number of the key modifications that enabled him to get again to high match health, whereas out of the blue reclaiming an everyday place within the beginning group earlier than not too long ago choosing up a niggling harm.
It’s been an unimaginable turnaround contemplating that previous to this season Khune had been battling to reclaim his No.1 spot within the Chiefs group, whereas there was discuss from some pundits in the course of the low season that he ought to maybe take a look at shifting to a different membership to have the ability to begin enjoying often.
However, the 35-year-old has all the time emphatically acknowledged that he’s joyful on the membership and gained’t be trying to go away, whereas he has not too long ago rediscovered some notable type.
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Now, as his his newest contract extension heads in direction of its finish, there’s each expectation that Khune will likely be handed a brand new deal.
“He can play for as long as his body wants,” former AmaZulu keeper Nick Gindre advised KickOff. “The noise about age means nothing for keepers because he could still have the best years of his career in the next three years.”
Besides some harm troubles, Khune has battled together with his conditioning over current seasons, however he has rectified this situation.
“I come to work, I do my job, I go back home and I spend time with my family,” the veteran keeper advised iDiski Times. “Like I mentioned, the vital data that was meant to be shared with me, of my outcomes, was stored away, I don’t know the explanations. But if solely I had identified that I’ve gained weight, I’ve gained physique fats, I’d have absolutely performed one thing about it, however I don’t know why it was stored away.
“There are sure targets for us to satisfy so as for us to have the ability to play for Kaizer Chiefs. So, I’m joyful that I used to be in a position to meet these targets as a result of my physique fats proportion in some unspecified time in the future was 16, and earlier than the beginning of the primary sport of the season it dropped to 12.
“I told my wife that we need to get it down to eight, so that if it does go up at some point it will be just below 10. So, you must always set yourself higher goals instead of when someone says, give me this, then you limit yourself.”
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Khune has no intention to retire any time quickly
Earlier this 12 months, Khune defined why he was not keen to contemplate leaving the membership even throughout a interval of restricted game-time.
“I will never entertain that I should leave the club. I will never go anywhere. I’m a ‘Khosi for Life’,” the 35-year-old beforehand mentioned on the DStv Premiership’s 2022-23 preseason launch.
“I’ve been given an opportunity from the development to the senior side. I’ve been given the responsibility of captaining the biggest club on the continent, so I wouldn’t be entertaining ideas that I would like to leave the club in the future.”