Itumeleng Khune is a Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper and a former national team number one. Khune's story is a young boy who hails from Ventersdorp to being on one of South Africa's best goalkeepers.
What Transfermarkt Says:
Khune's rise to becoming one of the country's most valuable players has been remarkable. Thus making his descent equally as shocking as he has seen his market value steadily decrease in recent years. When he first broke into the Chiefs first team in 2008, a then 20-year-old Khune was worth €150 000 (±R2.9m), according to Transfermarkt. As Khune's stock rose, so too did his market value and in 2018, he reached his highest ever valuation of €1.25m (±R20.1m) at the age of 30. Five years on and Khune has seen that amount decrease to €150 000 (±R2.9m).
Player's Coach On The Player:
"He's still one of the goalkeepers should anything happen to Brandon [Peterson], he's there to come in should anything happen also with Bruce [Bvuma]. So, we create the competition like I've been saying and unfortunately, obviously the players that are lagging a little bit behind and you don't want to now put them on the field with the idea to make them fail. You always want them to strive and get better and improve their game," coach Arthur Zwane said of Khune.
Player's Contract Status:
In July 2021, Chiefs announced that they had given Khune, along with a few other Chiefs players, a two-year contract extension which runs until June 2023. As things stand, Khune will be out of contract in the next two months. Chiefs Football Manager Bobby Motaung recently revealed that Chiefs have opened talks with the veteran about his future, although general thoughts in the fraternity is that Khune will remain with Chiefs for at least one more season. It has largely been thought that the club will offer Khune, who has already started with his coaching qualifications, a role at the club once he hangs up his gloves, although he has been vocal about his desire to play until at least 40. Whether that will be at Chiefs remains to be seen.
Player's Buy-Out Clause:
With Khune's contract set to expire in a few months, it's unlikely that he has a buy-out clause inserted in his Chiefs contract. However at the peak of his powers, you can imagine that a buy-out clause was something Chiefs inserted into Khune's contract, especially with the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns sniffing around at the time.
How Much In SA And Where?
If Chiefs do decide against continuing with their longest-serving player, it will be interesting to see which local team would be willing to take Khune on board. It is an open secret that Khune is on a high package at Chiefs and a move away from Naturena will naturally come with a salary cut. Khune's financial situation leaves him in a position where very few clubs in the DStv Premiership can afford him. One bonus about having the 36-year-old on board is the commercial value he could generate, having garnered an impressive fan base throughout his career and is currently one of the most popular players in the country.
How Much In Europe And Where?:
At 36, Khune's slim chances of making a move abroad is over. Keepers play well into their 30s in Europe; however Khune's profile was a stumbling block when he was at his peak and will continue to be one. His 1.81m frame has always been seen as a challenge for Europe's top leagues, who are more inclined towards taller goalkeepers. In this regard, it appears that Khune's European dream could be a thing of the past.
Ideal Dream Move:
Back in 2015, Khune was on the books of Manchester-based company Triple S that also handled then Manchester United superstar Wayne Rooney. At the time there was European interest in his services, according to his agent at the time Dan Lichman. It was thought that Khune's distribution, a key asset of his game would come in handy in Germany or even Denmark; however, nothing materialized in terms of a move for Khune who could go down as a one-club-man.
