Khune Not Ready To Retire
Kaizer Chiefs legend Itumeleng Khune says he knows the day will come when he officially brings his playing career to an end, but insists he is not yet in the right space to make that decision.
The 38-year-old’s remarks have raised eyebrows, especially as he has not featured for Amakhosi since the 2023/24 season.
Khune’s last appearance came against Polokwane City at FNB Stadium on 18 May 2024, where he was introduced for the final 14 minutes in place of Bruce Bvuma.
At the time, Chiefs indicated that the substitution marked Khune’s final game, seemingly bringing the curtain down on an illustrious career.
During his time at the club, Khune won the prestigious PSL Footballer of the Season award in the 2012/13 campaign, becoming only the second goalkeeper to claim the honour after Andre Arendse, who achieved the feat with Santos in the 2001/02 season.
Ronwen Williams later became the third goalkeeper to win the award, doing so with Mamelodi Sundowns in the same season Khune last featured.
Despite his departure from Chiefs, Khune has shown no urgency to announce his retirement, even though he is now employed full-time as a football analyst with SABC Sport.
“I don’t know how to answer that,” Khune said when asked why he has not officially retired.
Pressed on whether he still believes there could be a club willing to offer him a contract, he replied:
“No, not really. I don’t think I’m ready to make an announcement. But when the time is right, I will definitely make one.”
The Ventersdorp-born goalkeeper made his PSL debut in 2007 against Jomo Cosmos at Kings Park Stadium in Durban under coach Muhsin Ertugral. He holds the PSL-era record for the most consecutive seasons (17) at Kaizer Chiefs since his debut.
Khune went on to make 429 appearances across 20 seasons for the Soweto giants, winning three league titles, three Telkom Knockout trophies, two MTN8 titles, and one Nedbank Cup.
On the international stage, he is the second most capped player in Bafana Bafana history, earning 91 caps. Khune represented South Africa at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
