Kaizer Chiefs‘ Marketing and Commercial Director, Jessica Motaung as well as Sporting Director, Kaizer Motaung Jr have given the latest update on Itumeleng Khune, confirming once more that his playing career with the club is over but they are keen to “take him to the next level” him in another role.
Khune, 37, has been a free agent since his contract with Amakhosi expired at the end of June, but it seems the player is still keen on continuing his career.
However, with no official move materialising for the long-term Chiefs goalkeeper, Khune might need to reconsider his option.
Jessica Motaung confirmed the Glamour Boys are keen to find a new role for Khune within in the club’s structures and meetings will take place soon.
“Khune has been a big part of the Kaizer Chiefs family, someone that we value very seriously,” she told Thabiso Mosia on Radio 2000.
“We are in process and discusses around the role that he can play. In fact one of the things that I was researching in the UK, the ambassadorial role of other players for their clubs after they’ve retired or moved.
“So we are in discussions and I’m very excited we have meetings that are set up for us to really look at finalising and going through certain proposals with each.
“But we’re very excited to sit with him around the table and really carve out a really exciting way of taking him to the next level within the Chiefs family. Talks are taking place and we’re making sure we’re keeping him within the fold.”
Motaung Jr also insisted that the club see Khune’s playing role as over and have made provisions to cover his gap, but his value for the club remains undebatable.
“I think from that perspective [playing], it was already done. Also with Itu it’s difference because we’ve had those discussions last year already,” he added.
“We were also very clear as a club from the beginning about the contract that we’ve put forward to Itu.
“And that’s why, as you can see, Fiacre [Ntwari] was one of our important signings because we’d already long planned for that transition.
“Itu is a very valuable member of the family, because you don’t achieve what he’s done and contribute to this brand in the way he has by mistake. Obviously it’s a time where he can serve in other aspects and we look forward to what unfolds.”
