With the 2023/24 season left with only one match in the Nedbank Cup final before it officially ends, there are a few well-known players that are expected to announce their retirement.
However, the debate has been on whether clubs should push players out of the game, or if players must be allowed to make their own decisions about their careers when on the other side of 30.
Legends such as Happy Jele and Siphiwe Tshabalala have struggled to find clubs in recent months and the perception in the fraternity has been that they are being overlooked because of their age.
Following the honouring of Itumeleng Khune by Kaizer Chiefs recently for his 25 years of service to the club, some in the fraternity believe that the gesture was the way for Amakhosi to say 'thank you and goodbye' to the veteran goalkeeper as a player for the Soweto giants.
Former Chiefs star Junior Khanye feels that clubs should learn a thing or two from Mamelodi Sundowns about the treatment of their legends.
The Good
"I wish all the PSL clubs can do things the same way when it comes to taking care of their players, especially when it comes to the legends who have served them with dedication and loyalty over the years. Look at Mamelodi Sundowns, they are one of the few clubs that one feels that are on the right track with regards to this topic. Guys like Michael Manzini, Kennedy Mweene, Teko Modise, Tiyani Mabunda and Hlompho Kekana are some of the guys that were retained and taken care of by the club post their playing careers and it's good to see because they are the club's legends after all and are being rewarded. Those guys were not pushed into retirement but were allowed to make their own decisions from what I understand," said Khanye, speaking exclusively to the Siya crew.
The Bad
"My point here is that clubs should respect their own and legends who have done well for their teams and they should be taken care of after their playing careers. Also, I would like South Africa to do away with this thing of forcing players out of the game once they reach a certain age, it is not right. Such a decision should lie with an individual involved based on how they feel physically and mentally. You can't force a footballer to retire, it's impossible. I am very disappointed in some of the clubs that seem to be doing this and I am telling them now that it is wrong," said Khanye.
The Ugly
"Football is about talent, fitness and all those things, but most importantly it is about the love of the game. if I may make an example about Itumeleng Khune's situation, I was very touched in the manner which it happened as it seemed that he was being pushed out of the game. It is touching, seeing Kaizer Chiefs struggling the way they have been struggling on the field while they have a player of Khune's calibre who can help the team to improve. Chiefs have been playing the likes of Bruce Bvuma and Brandon Petersen in goals ahead of Khune and I am saying now that you can't force anyone to be good when they are not. If you are not Kaizer Chiefs material, you are not. Khune is the best goalkeeper in the current Chiefs squad but for reasons unknown to me, the guy is being overlooked for matches," concluded Khanye.
What are you best memories of Shabba, Jele and Khune in football?
