Football pundits Phumudzo Manenzhe and Bongani Khumalo disagreed over Kaizer Chiefs’ treatment of Itumeleng Khune, with ‘The Bold’ arguing that the veteran goalkeeper should’ve started the game against Polokwane City.
Chiefs announced prior to the match that they would be honouring Khune for his 25 years of service to the club. The legendary shotstopper was given a Guard of Honour by both Chiefs and Rise and Shine players. Khune was also gifted two framed Chiefs jerseys signed by his colleagues.
However, many fans were stunned when Bruce Bvuma, Chiefs’ regular number one this season, started the match and not Khune.
It has since caused debates among supporters and analysts, with Manenzhe arguing that Khune had earned his honour stake to start the match.
“Khune should’ve started the game because they were honouring him. That’s the proper way to do it,” he said on Extra-Time.
“I think playing him for 15 minutes, it doesn’t speak to the quality that the man still has.
“The man says ‘I still have two seasons to play’, himself. And when you look at Itumeleng Khune and the quality that he still has, I still maintain – if you honouring for him for 25 years of service at Kaizer Chiefs, start him in that game.”
However, with important points in the top eight race still on the line, interim coach Cavin Johnson opted to hand Khune only 15 minutes in the end, with the scoreline logged at 0-0, and Khumalo says he fully understood Johnson’s decision.
“I’m of a different opinion,” he added.
“At the end of the day, professionalism must prevail, always. If you have a number one goalkeeper who’s been playing, who’s been performing, that is your goalkeeper. You need the points, it’s the last two games of the season.
“The wonderful gesture, the wonderful touches is great but in the greater scheme of things, the club is here to win football games and coaches get paid to do what they need to do to win football games – not to hand out gestures or gifts.
“But that’s why I say he’s still trusted, so you’ll get your minutes, you’ll get your gesture.”
Chiefs have one more game to secure eighth spot. They travel to already-relegated Cape Town Spurs on Saturday, May 25. It remains to be seen whether Khune will get a start in Amakhosi’s final match of the season or whether Johnson will stick with Bvuma again.
