Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral has insisted that Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune could have played in Europe comparing him to Manchester United’s Andre Onana.
Khune will be honoured by Chiefs on Saturday at their home game against Polokwane City,, as he approaches the end of a 25-year playing career for the Amakhosi.
Also read: CHIEFS TO HONOUR KHUNE
‘WHY KHUNE’S MOVE TO EUROPE BROKE DOWN‘
The former Bafana Bafana number one had interests from Europe just before the 2010 FIFA World Cup, however couldn’t make a move with his height said to be the biggest stumbling block.
Ertugral has discussed at length about how scouts brought up Khune’s height at the time of the interest but adds that he sees a similar thing with Onana who the former coach doesn’t believe is even taller than Khune.
The Turkish manager told iDiski Times editor Rob Delport recently that scouts back then were harsh on the 36-year-old Khune as he suited the game of some European leagues.
“Is Onana that much taller?”, asked Ertugral in iDiski Times.
“So I mean, when I see Onana now today, I see Itu, but not that good like Itu. If Onana can play at Manchester United and Cameroon national team, just imagine what Itu could have done?
“So the thinking of scouts and coaches at that time was skewed. We knew, if he plays the Bundesliga or plays England, when the crosses come in, the percentage of the crosses coming in, the level of the cross, it’s a bit different. This is why Onana is struggling at the moment in England.
“It is not about playing with the team, it is not about saving, it’s those elements during the game. And that can really do it, those balls come like bullets. And they’re precise on the spots.
“So that’s why Onana can’t do enough, because it is how he wants to play also, he is not just a goalkeeper, he’s between. So this is Itu. Actually I find him much similar, but far better.”
Ertugral also opened up on wanting to bring Khune to Sivasspor when the goalkeeper’s height also came up.
“Obviously the first discussion that I had with Sivasspor when I wanted Itu in my team, the same issue came up. He is not too tall for the Turkish league,” he explained.
“I said ‘We sit down and we analyse all those games, how many crosses does he have to handle in the game?’
“So if that is the case, if that is a weak point, and then you put your wing-backs a little bit more further out, then they pressurise the man on the ball on the wing. So if that’s the case, then you also find small details for it. That’s what we did with Chiefs.
“And ja, if it’s only one weakness, and I wouldn’t say weakness, if it’s one thing that maybe wasn’t one of people’s best is the crosses, that you need to handle it. But I think for my time, he really handled it also very well.
“But if Onana can play today for Manchester United, then Itu would have played anywhere.”
