Itumeleng Khune full of praise for Jose Riveiro. Image: Getty
‘There’s only one Khune’ – ex-Kaizer Chiefs coach says Itu was not protected
Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral says Itu Khune would have been protected under his leadership like he did with Jabu Pule.
Itumeleng Khune full of praise for Jose Riveiro. Image: Getty
Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral says the club threw Itumeleng Khune under the bus when they decided to suspend him.
The club suspended the 36-year-old keeper in December after allegedly coming to training under the influence of alcohol.
He served his three-month suspension before returning for the first time. Khune has however failed to make an appearance for Kaizer Chiefs, with Cavin Johnson opting for Bruce Bvuma in goals.
Muhsin, who is one of the club’s successful coaches, believes Amakhosi were harsh on Khune.“It was sad for me to see. You don’t treat a player in that capacity [like that],” Ertugral told iDiski Times.
“In his most difficult times, he needs to have something to hold on to. And I couldn’t see that by Kaizer Chiefs. I mean, I can only say that now from the outside, I’m not involved, I don’t want to trigger negativity, but it could have helped him,” he said about Khune’s Kaizer Chiefs situation.
“It was a couple of years ago, the same story. And I’ve made it publicly, I remember that when I said publicly out, they should know there is only one Itu, there is no second Itu and there will never be a second Itu coming up in the next 50 years.”
Muhsin touches on Khune’s situation at Kaizer Chiefs
Erugral has two successful stints at Naturena. In 2007, he gave Itu Khune his official senior debut for Kaizer Chiefs against Jomo Cosmos.
“So for Kaizer Chiefs at that time, if I was in charge, I’d always try to protect my players,” he said. You don’t need to put certain things out in the public. You [don’t] need to do that.”
Ertugral revealed issues with previous top stars at the club but were protected under his leadership. Before Khune, the Turkish mentor coached the likes of Jabu Mahlangu(Pule) and Doctor Khumalo at Kaizer Chiefs.
“I mean, do you think that Jabu Pule was easy? Do you think that Doctor Khumalo was easy? Do you think Thabo Mooki was easy? Do you think that Arthur Zwane and Cyril Nzama were always easy? But they’re unbelievable artists, unbelievable,” he added.
Khune’s contract at Kaizer Chiefs ends in June and the club confirmed last year that the keeper was to retire.
