Itumeleng Khune Set to Leave Soweto’s Kaizer Chiefs?
Over the past few weeks, there has been increasing speculation that veteran Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune could leave the Soweto giants at the end of the current season.
Khune remains suspended by the club after he allegedly arrived at the club under the influence of alcohol.
This has added speculation to the fire that the former Bafana Bafana gloveman could be on his way out of Chiefs.
Sowetan has it that Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung confirmed that ‘Itu’ remains sidelined at Naturena as he is still going through the suspension process.
“I can’t share the time frame as to when he’ll be integrated with the team, but he’s still in the process of suspension. Remember, he was suspended by the disciplinary committee, so there’s a process and he’s following that process,” Motaung told Sowetan on Wednesday.
“The suspension may be expiring soon, but there are still processes to be followed before he forms part of the team again.”
Following speculation on his behaviour, Chiefs released a statement in December last year that he was suspended and that they had stripped Khune of his captaincy.
The daily publication also published that the 36-year-old keeper was advised to go to rehabilitation.
Currently on a gig with SABC Sport as an AFCON pundit, Khune’s contract is set to expire at the end of the 2023/24 DStv Premiership campaign.
At the same time, a football publication Phakaaathi reported that Khune might be pushed out of the club and the suspension is a signal they want to get rid of the seasoned shot-stopper.
“Khune feels that he could have been protected more by the club instead of them going public about his suspension,” a source told the Phakaaathi’s Mgosi squad.
“The funny thing is that he didn’t arrive at training drunk. The story was obviously leaked to the media to tarnish his image. Players had a day off, and most of the guys drank.
“The unfortunate thing is that he will never clear his name or speak negatively about Chiefs in public because he loves the club.
“But he knows that his time is up because he can see that he’s being pushed out.”
Looking at their domestic schedule, Amakhosi return to league action against TS Galaxy at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday next week.
Read: Latest Kaizer Chiefs News: Chiefs Keeper Bruce Bvuma Unfazed by Contract Situation
