Latest news with #ItumelengKhune
The South African
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Forgotten star set to return to Kaizer Chiefs!
Kaizer Chiefs are set to make some big decision with regards to their squad ahead of the next season. Chiefs completed yet another season where they failed to get into the top eight, despite winning the Nedbank Cup. This means that they will not compete in the MTN8 for the second season in a row. That failure is thought to lead to a mass exodus of players ahead of the next campaign. Already for last season Chiefs got rid of some deadwood in two windows. The likes of Itumeleng Khune, Siyethemba Sithebe, Njabulo Ngcobo, Sifiso Hlanti and Keagan Dolly were dismissed ahead of pre-season. Then after pre-season the likes of Sabelo Radebe and In the January window they continued with their exodus, Christian Saile and Mduduzi Mdantsane leaving on loan. Now according to SABC Sport, after failing to make an impact at Richard's Bay, Mdantsane will not see his temporary stay change into a permanent one in KZN. The playmaker is now scheduled to return to Chiefs for pre-season. 'I won't say no if my technical team wants to keep him, but as things stand right now I can tell you that all loan players – including Mdantsane – are going back to their clubs at the end of the season,' said Richard's Bay owner Jomo Biyela on the Chiefs star. Even if Mdantsane returns to Chiefs, he stands little to no chance of staying for the season. Having already been rendered surplus to requirements, it's difficult to see him being apart of a rebuild under coach Nasreddine Nabi. Chiefs are expected to have a mass exodus at the at the conclusion of next month. Mdantsane is most likely to be joined by a whole host of stars out the door. Is this the right decision from the Chiefs management?
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Itumeleng Khune slams football agents: 'They wasted my time and money'
Itumeleng Khune not happy with football agents Former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper and captain Itumeleng Khune has criticised football agents. Photo: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers Former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has delivered a scathing assessment of South African football agents, issuing a strong warning to young players. Khune left Chiefs at the end of last season, 25 years after joining the club as a 12-year-old. Despite his departure, the 37-year-old insists he has not retired and believes he still has more to offer on the field. Speaking at a Nedbank Cup dinner in Durban recently, the 37-year-old former Bafana Bafana captain urged young players to keep a very close eye on their finances, something he failed to do throughout his illustrious career. 'I think learning about finances is very important because, as footballers, we tend to think that we have agents,' Khune, who was paid a reported R480,000 per month in his last season with the club, said, according to FARPost.
The South African
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs legend Khune warns young players
Kaizer Chiefs legend Itumeleng Khune is the model professional for any young player to follow. With over 15 years of experience in the game, Khune has warned emerging players about agents. According to the Ventersdorp-born legend, player agents simply have their own interests at heart. 'I think learning about finances is very important because, as footballers, we tend to think that we have agents,' Khune said at a Nedbank Cup press conference. Kaizer Chiefs star Itumeleng Khune at the DHL Stadium before facing Cape Town Spurs. Image: BackpagePix 'I don't mean to downgrade the agents or talk bad, but towards the end of my career, I stopped having an agent, and I started seeing growth in my bank account. 'When I was still under an agency, I thought they were doing the job, but all they did was to come and sign a three-year contract with the team, and you sign a two-year contract with them,' the Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeping icon added on FARPost . 'So they get their share of money, and they forget completely about you because you're not their only player. They would rather have five different goalkeepers, playing for different teams. 'And when a club approaches an agent and says we need a goalkeeper, he has to choose from the five as to which one he is taking. The former Kaizer Chiefs number one concluded: 'So I feel like agents have wasted my time, and if I knew that at a young age, I would be far by now. Players always run to agents for advice, yet agents only think of their pockets.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
28-04-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Itumeleng Khune urges Kaizer Chiefs to trust South African talent
Itumeleng Khune urges Kaizer Chiefs to trust South African talent going forward. The Glamour Boys continue to grapple with a goalkeeping crisis, and club legend Khune believes he knows exactly how to fix it. Chiefs, once a powerhouse of South African football, have struggled to find a reliable number one since Khune's golden years came to a close. In a desperate bid to plug the gap, Chiefs signed Rwandan goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari. However, after a shaky start to the season, Bruce Bvuma replaced him and with almost one-third of the season now behind them, the situation remains far from stable. The numbers paint a grim picture, Chiefs have conceded a staggering 29 goals in just 24 league matches. Shockingly, they have let in more goals than SuperSport United, a team languishing in 15th place on the Premiership table. Speaking in an interview on the TimesLIVE YouTube channel, Khune didn't mince his words. He believes the answer lies not just in the players, but in the coaching staff. 'What is happening at Chiefs is heart-breaking for any Chiefs fan, because this is not what we're used to. Remember, if you look back, Chiefs have always produced great goalkeepers and you knew there's a number one and number two was not far off from number one,' Khune said. Khune stressed that foreign influence in the goalkeeper department has stunted local development and hurt the national team. 'But with the current generation, there's a big gap, we lack goalkeeper coaches. Foreigners occupy the number one, what does it do for our national team? When Ronwen (Williams) is not fit, we struggle (only) now Sipho Chaine is coming into the picture,' he explained. Khune emphasized that bringing in a South African goalkeeper coach could reignite the competitive spirit that once defined Chiefs' keepers. 'You need a goalkeeper coach who is South African, who will push you to almost Ronwen's level, that's what used to happen at Chiefs. There was a season Brian Baloyi and Rowen Fernandez were rotating, competition was tight. After them, our generation, myself, Brilliant (Khuzwayo) and Reyaad Pieterse, we were not far off. The number one priority was clean sheets. The current generation, I don't know what's happening, if they're pushing each other,' Khune added. Khune's point finds solid backing in recent success stories. Orlando Pirates' current number two, Sipho Chaine, has flourished under the guidance of South African coach Tyron Damons. Similarly, Wendell Robinson, who served Mamelodi Sundowns for over a decade until December last year, played a crucial role in nurturing some of the PSL's finest goalkeepers. The evidence is clear, when South African hands guide the next generation, the results speak for themselves. Stay tuned with The South African as Itumeleng Khune urges Kaizer Chiefs to trust South African talent. Is Khune correct or should the best people be hired irrespective of their nationality? Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
