Why Itumeleng Khune has stayed so long at Kaizer Chiefs

Itumeleng Khune knows no other club but Kaizer Chiefs, where he grew up and bloomed to be the household name he is today. 

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Khune is the longest serving member of the current Chiefs squad having joined in July 2004 from the club’s development academy. 

And if he stays on until July next year, he would have been with the club for 20 years, which would be a record no other player has ever had in local football. 

There were times when Khune was reported to be on his way out of Chiefs, but he opted to stay put. 

Khune has meanwhile explained what has kept him at Amakhosi for so long in an interview with Gagasi FM Sports.

“For players like myself and Eric Mathoho having been at the club for so long… A lot of guys are asking, ‘how come you guys have been here for so long?’,” said Khune.

As a senior player in the team and club captain, Khune has assumed the role of ensuring that the new players understand the culture and what it takes to be a Chiefs player.

“It takes hard work, dedication and obviously the hunger to win,” he said. 

“So, as you can see with the guys who recently joined us, they have settled well.”

Khune has been with Chiefs so long that he played with the current coach Arthur Zwane some years ago. 

Could Khune be on his way out? 

“I had the privilege of playing with coach Arthur. And I had the privilege of being coached by him. 

“So obviously, we know what he wants. He wants hard-working players. 

“He wants disciplined players, and (wearing the Kaizer Chiefs badge doesn’t come easy.”

Khune is however Among the players whose current deals at Chiefs come to an end in June and it will be interesting to see if the club keeps him. 

Asked about the players whose contracts are ending in June recently, Zwane said that is something the club will discuss only after the end of the season. 

“As a club we have a plan and that plan is to take into consideration all these players,” said Zwane.

“We know they’ve been contributing, but unfortunately injuries are injuries. 

“Also, being injured doesn’t mean they’re no longer part of the team. 

“We’ll discuss at the end of the season with individuals that we think we can move on with going forward with this project because that’s very, very key.”

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Other players whose contracts are ending in June are Khama Billiat, Sifiso Hlanti, Eric Motoho, Happy Mashiane and Phathutshedzo Nange.