Khune gives advice to Sundowns and Pirates fringe keepers

Kaizer Chiefs legend Itumeleng Khune has offered his counsel on Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates fringe goalkeepers Jody February and Melusi Buthelezi.

February and Buthelezi are struggling for game time at the two clubs as they are behind Ronwen Williams and Sipho Chaine in the pecking order with the first-choice goalkeepers now established and unchallenged.

Williams is the undisputed Sundowns and Bafana Bafana No.1 while Chaine hardly misses a match for Pirates and is also pushing for a starting place in the national team.

That has heavily limited the chances for their understudies with February having it rough as he is third-choice behind Williams and Denis Onyango at Sundowns while Buthelezi only gets matches when Chaine is rested or suspended.

Khune tells Buthelezi what to do

Khune, who played for Chiefs for all his career, spending 25 years at his boyhood club most of which he was first-choice, admits he never experienced it but wants those on the fringes to consider key issues before deciding their future.

“If you want to be a benchwarmer, just make sure you’re at the right club,” Khune said while offering his advice to Buthelezi as per Soccer Laduma.

‘You’re making your money. You are winning trophies. So with Buthelezi’s situation, I wouldn’t advise him to ask for a loan to go get game time. Because he’s playing for the right club, Pirates. He’s earning good money and he’s winning trophies. So for him, it’s understandable,” he added regarding the situation of the goalkeeper who has played just one game for Pirates this season.

What is Chiefs legend’s advice to February?

However, Khune feels February, who signed a five-year deal at Sundowns, and has played just eight games for the club, needs to go elsewhere as his talent is going to waste at Chloorkop.

“But even with Jody, it’s understandable. But it’s been long for Jody signing a five-year contract with Sundowns and his fourth or fifth choice,” added Khune.

“So if I were him, I was going to ask for a loan. Asking for a loan means you’re going to play. When you play, your value goes up. When it goes up, obviously, you’re going to come back with more experience.

“And whatever happens to Ronwen, because he’s getting older, injuries will start kicking in. Touch wood doesn’t happen. But as a footballer, expect such to happen. It’s going to happen.”