Itumeleng Khune criticises Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeping department again before Soweto Derby
HARSH WORDS Itumeleng Khune criticised Kaizer Chiefs' declining goalkeeping standards ahead of the Soweto Derby, highlighting the lack of strong local goalkeeper coaches and its impact on the national team. Picture: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Image: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Ahead of the Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership on Saturday, Itumeleng Khune has once again called on Kaizer Chiefs to improve their goalkeeping department.
Kick-off for the Soweto Derby is at 3pm at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Khune, 37, left the club at the beginning of the campaign, and in his stead, Bruce Bvuma, Brandon Petersen, and more recently Fiacre Ntwari have been the goalkeepers used by Chiefs.
Chiefs have conceded 29 goals in 25 Betway Premiership matches this season. Only three teams have conceded more, and two of those sides are in the bottom of the log.
It’s no surprise then that Chiefs find themselves in ninth spot with five games remaining and face the prospect of missing out on the lucrative top eight for a second season in a row.
The Decline of Goalkeeping Standards at Chiefs: Khune Speaks Out
"What is happening at Chiefs is heart-breaking for any Chiefs fan, because this is not what we're used to. Remember, if you look back, Chiefs have always produced great goalkeepers, and you knew there was a number one, and number two was not far off from number one," Khune told Soccer Laduma.
Khune’s comments come after he took a jab at the keeping standards at Chiefs last week.
The former Bafana Bafana shot-stopper went on to explain that his comments were directed at the goalkeeping coaches.
"You need a goalkeeper coach who is South African, who will push you to almost Ronwen’s [Williams] level; that's what used to happen at Chiefs.
"But with the current generation, there's a big gap; we lack goalkeeper coaches. Foreigners occupy the number one spot. What does it do for our national team? When Ronwen (Williams) is not fit, we struggle. Only now is Sipho Chaine coming into the picture.”