Lerato Chabangu and Junior Khanye. Images via X @juniorkhanye13, @biyela_bongz
Junior Khanye responds to backlash following visit to Chabangu
Former Kaizer Chiefs star Junior Khanye has explained why he visited his friend and ex-Sundowns footballer Lerato Chabangu.
Lerato Chabangu and Junior Khanye. Images via X @juniorkhanye13, @biyela_bongz
Football analyst Junior Khanye has responded to the social media backlash he received this week after visiting his friend and former Mamelodi Sundowns star, Lerato Chabangu.
Khanye was criticised for publicising his visit to the ex-Moroka Swallows midfielder who did not look his best, and has previously gone public about losing it all after his soccer career ended.
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KHANYE EXPLAINS WHY HE VISITED CHABANGU
The vocal former Kaizer Chiefs player has told Soccer Laduma that his visit was innocent, as he knows Chabangu personally.
“It was a genuine visit and I just decided to visit Lerato as a friend of mine and there wasn’t more to it. Lerato is a former teammate of mine from the U20 and U23 national teams and that’s one of the reasons I decided to visit him just to catch up,” said Khanye.
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The ex-Amakhosi winger added that, since the visit, people have been reaching out to him with the intention of helping Chabangu.
“I see that the pictures we took have been trending and that wasn’t the aim to be honest, but it was just a visit to a friend like I say. Ever since, I have been getting enquiries from people who would like to lay a helping hand to the brother and to me that’s good to see,” he explained.
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LERATO’S STORY
In 2017, Chabangu opened up to the SowetanLIVE about how he blew all his football earnings.
The former soccer star, affectionately known as “All You Need Is Love”, said he used to have a beautiful home in Boksburg which he lost due to the reckless lifestyle he led. His car was also repossessed and he couldn’t afford to pay rent at his luxury apartment in Midrand.
“I blew all my money on useless things because I was always guaranteed a salary the following month,” Chabangu said.
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When he lost everything, including his wife and daughter, the right winger said he moved back to his grandmother’s house in Tembisa.
“I separated from my wife because of financial issues and I do not see my (six-year-old) daughter anymore because she is with her mother.
“I have made many mistakes in my life and I feel I have learned my lessons. Things are tough and I am not the kind of person who likes to beg.
“I have nothing left. Football is all I know and I hope there’s someone out there who can give me another chance.”
