Chiefs legend issues a strong message to Ntseki on Khune’s role

Ex-Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper and legend Brian Baloyi has sent a strong message to coach Molefi Ntseki, urging him to allow Itumeleng Khune to lead the team next season.

Baloyi argues that Khune has a lot to offer at Chiefs and downplays the age factor, saying there are more senior keepers who are still active in professional football.

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‘Spiderman’ added that Bafana legend Andre Arendse played at the highest level until the age of 43 for Bidvest Wits as an emergency keeper before joining SuperSport United as a goalkeeper coach.

CHIEFS LEGEND’S MESSAGE TO NTSEKI ON KHUNE’S ROLE

Baloyi’s sentiments come as the Naturena-based Chiefs announced that the 36-year-old veteran netminder will play for the final season as he prepares for life off the field of play.

Amakhosi currently have Bruce Bvuma, Brandon Petersen as well as Bontle Molefe but Baloyi wants Khune to be given the number one spot between the goalposts.

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He argued that Khune can still a big role at Amakhosi as he looked at Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon who is still active at the age of 46 for Parma in the Serie B.

“There’s nobody who is not aware of Khune’s ability and leadership qualities. I believe he can still help and play a crucial role for Chiefs,” Baloyi told Isolezwe.

“If they say Khune is old, I think they forget that Andre Arendse played until he was 43. Look at Gianluigi Buffon from Italy, he is 46 but he is still playing as a goalkeeper.

“If it was up to me, I would tell Ntseki to give Khune the responsibility to lead the team.”

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Chiefs announced that ‘Itu’ is expected to use the upcoming season to broaden his technical acumen and transition into an ambassadorial role working with the marketing division at the club.

The ex-Bafana skipper, Khune will enter his 20th season as a first-team member of the Chiefs’ squad, thus setting a new club record, was promoted to the senior side in the 2004/05 campaign.

LEGEND ADDRESSES SA’S GOALKEEPING ISSUES

The outspoken legend who also played for Mamelodi Sundowns didn’t mince his words when trying to find solutions to fix the nation’s goalkeeping issues.

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He said the so-called big DStv Premiership clubs boast two or three foreign goalkeepers and that is killing the local talent.

Looking at Sundowns, the reigning league champions have Denis Onyango and the recently retired Kennedy Mweene from Uganda and Zambia respectively.

On top of that, Orlando Pirates boast Ghana’s Richard Ofori while Moroka Swallows have Daniel Akpeyi from Nigeria who occupies the number one role.

“We have a problem regarding goalkeepers in South Africa and that’s an old problem, it will continue for many years because nobody is prepared to fix it,” he added.

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“You look at the so-called big clubs and you’ll find that they have two or three foreign goalkeepers.

“If you have many foreign goalkeepers then how do you expect the South Africans to get an opportunity to play?

“That tells you we have a big problem regarding goalkeepers in this country. One day we need to take a decision not to sign foreign goalkeepers.”

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