Snl24 | Dolly out, Khune decision hangs in the air
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 09: Keagan Dolly and Itumeleng Khune of Kaizer Chiefs during the Soweto Derby press conference at Multichoice City on November 09, 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
With his current deal expiring in a matter of days, decorated goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune is set to meet with Kaizer Chiefs for a final decision on his future.
The Chiefs squad returned to training on Monday at the Village – the club’s training base in Naturena, south of Johannesburg.
Players whose contracts are set to expire at the of June were not present for the first day, including Keagan Dolly, Sifiso Hlanti, Siyethemba Sithebe, the trio that has since been released, as per media reports.Â
That also includes Njabulo Ngcobo, who is reportedly heading to Sekhukhune United.
Those injured and on international duty were marked ‘absent’ on the register too.
READ |Â THREE things Nabi has to address at Chiefs
Khune is also understood to not have been among the 28 who reported for training in the presence of incoming assistant coach Fernando Da Cruz and goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi, who landed on South African shores over the weekend.
Information reaching the KickOff news desk is that the 36-year-old, along with a few other players soon to be out of contract at Chiefs, will find out their fate within the next few days.
Additionally, sources close to proceedings insist that Bafana Bafana’s erstwhile No.1 remains determined to convince the new technical team and club hierarchy over a new deal.Â
The 2013 SA Sports Star of the Year has been vocal about his desire to continue playing in the Gold and Black, and even before Amakhosi resumed training, was pictured doing individual training.
Offering Khune a new deal would signal a U-turn from the Soweto giants’ statement made at the start of this past season, which confirmed that his one-year deal would be the last offered to shot-stopper in a playing capacity.Â
Player Updates!
Khune Pens His Final Chiefs Contract as Player
Kaizer Chiefs’ longest serving player and Club captain, Itumeleng Khune, has been handed a new contract which will see him play for Amakhosi for one final season, taking his professional career to two decades.… pic.twitter.com/LgnjotAE1K
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) June 30, 2023ALSO READ | Johnson: People must ‘stand up to greet’ Itu
The club’s hierarchy are understood to be standing by their initial stance, evidenced by the renewal of the deals for Brandon Petersen and Bruce Bvuma – each signing a fresh two-year contract before the end of 2023/24. Â
However, if Khune finds favour with the new technical team, it may be enough to sway the club’s management and see him earn a spot in the Nabi-led Chiefs outfit.
