Former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana goalminder Itumeleng Khune has opened up on how him and the late Senzo Meyiwa made goalkeeping fashionable in South Africa.
The two shared a very close bound from an early age coming through from their respective youth club ranks while also sharing the field at international youth level.
The rise of Khune and Meyiwa at Chiefs and Pirates was an iconic moment for South African football as they also captained their clubs as well as Bafana Bafana.
Sadly, ‘Nzori’ and ‘Itu’s friendship both on an off the field was cut short when the Pirates shot-stopper was murdered in cold blood in October 2014 in an alleged home invasion in Vosloorus.
“When it comes to my highs for a goalkeeper, I’ve done enough to say I made goalkeeping fashionable, and I can claim that,” Khune said to Thabiso Sithole on eNCA’s Beyond Game Day.
“Because before I started playing, goalkeepers were not recognised. Goalkeepers were not winning man of the match.
“Goalkeepers were not nominated for footballer of the year, players’ player, player of the year.
“But as soon as we took the field, myself and my late friend Senzo Meyiwa [MHSRIP], it was what we told ourselves at the age of 15.
“To say, ‘My brother, you’re at Pirates I’m at Chiefs. There’s [Williams] Okpara this side it’s Brian Baloyi here, as soon as they step aside and retire, we have to take goalkeeping on a whole new level.
“And we did exactly that. Even when we met in the tunnel before every game or even at the U20, U23, Bafana Bafana camp, we will say, ‘Let’s give the fans a good show.’
“I’ll pull off a save this side and you’ll pull off a save that side.
“We used to love when we would hear the crowd singing our names and we were able to change goalkeeping.
“Those were my highs because I have ticked all the boxes.
“There isn’t a trophy I haven’t won [in the PSL that is].”
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