Itumeleng Khune to choose playing career over Kaizer Chiefs?

Kaizer Chiefs honoured long-serving captain Itumeleng Khune, for his 25 years of service to the club. 

This Khune tribute took place before Chiefs’ last home game of the season, against Polokwane City at the FNB Stadium. 

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With Chiefs still having a lot to play for, with regards to securing their top eight hopes, they didn’t deliver. Three points would’ve been the order of the day. But in the end they had to settle for a point. That keeps them in eighth going to the last day. It would not just be a watching brief for Khune though. He ended up coming on to make his fifth appearance of the season, off the bench. 

Was thought Khune was playing his last home game

Many in the stadium gave him an ovation in what they felt as if, was his last home game for Chiefs. Luckily for him and the club, he was able to at least maintain the clean sheet. After the goalless draw, however, he spoke to the media, in a post-match press conference. Khune made it clear that the occasion was a tribute and not necessarily a last game before retirement! 

This publication reported on Sunday that Khune had stated the club was honouring him for his 25-year service. Chiefs did not say that he was retiring. Now according to Soccer-Laduma the veteran goal minder is ready to leave Amakhosi if it means continuing his playing career. 

“Itumeleng Khune isn’t even thinking about retiring yet, and that you should know. But why should he retire? He is 36 years old (turning 37 in June), and for a goalkeeper that isn’t a retirement age, especially for someone who is on top of his game. I talk to the boy quite often and he feels he still needs to play because he is enjoying his game despite having been limited for game time (at Chiefs) this season.” 

Willing to leave Chiefs to continue playing career?

“So, if an opportunity for him to play isn’t available at Chiefs, expect Khune to assess his options elsewhere because all he wants is to play. There are a lot of clubs that can do with Khune’s experience in the PSL and why should he retire if he feels he can still contribute? Again, it’s a South African football mentality that players should be forced out of the game at a certain age and that can’t always be right. The guy must be allowed to enjoy his football if he feels he isn’t done yet,” continued the source.

There were murmurs of Sekhukhune United monitoring Khune’s situation at Chiefs. Could that be an option still?