Kaizer Chiefs captain and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has suggested that it's not a foregone conclusion that he will retire at the end of the 2023/24 season and opened up on the return of his long-time goalkeeping mentor Rainer Dinkelacker.
Chiefs extended Khune's contract, which expired last season, by one more year and they announced it as his last contract as a player at the club.
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The Bafana Bafana goalkeeper is being prepared to transition into the role of a goalkeeper coach and is also earmarked to have an ambassadorial role working with the marketing division at the club.
Khune says he's grateful for being given one more season and he still respects the game, as he's still working with his personal trainer ahead of the 2023/24 season, which marks his 20th campaign since being promoted from the development ranks at Chiefs in 2004.
"It's always pleasing when a 36-year old like me is still respecting the game, because this game is the one that has changed my life," Khune said on eNCA.
"I'll be celebrating my 20th season with one club and I think it's a record in South African football and I'm very pleased that the chairman and the board of directors at Kaizer Chiefs were willing to give me another year to play football."
The Glamour Boys had announced in the off-season that they welcomed back their former goalkeeper coach Dinkelacker, who returned as a strategic advisor in the goalkeeping department.
The Ventersdorp native continued and said it's a great opportunity for him to work with the German, who was instrumental in launching his career and honing his skills, as he prepares to become a goalkeeper coach too.
Khune also suggested that it will be up to him whether he retires or not after the upcoming campaign, given the investment he has made in himself.
"If it happens that I retire come the end of the season, which it will depend on myself, the investment that I made to myself and if I can continue playing for yet another season, obviously I'll be learning a lot from him," Khune said.
"So that when I transition from being a goalkeeper to being a goalkeeper coach at least I know I have all the tools, I have all the knowledge.
"So for him to be back in South Africa to mentor us I think it's a great opportunity for us to learn a lot from him. Yes, I've enjoyed my footballing career under him," he added.
Chiefs will open their 2023/24 DStv Premiership season on Sunday, 6 August when they host Chippa United at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
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