Kaizer Chiefs great Khune explains how Meyiwa and him elevated goalkeeping

Kaizer Chiefs legend Itumeleng Khune has opened up regarding how the late Senzo Meyiwa and him transformed goalkeeping in South Africa.

Khune enjoyed a great career at Kaizer Chiefs, winning numerous trophies, including three league titles, while Meyiwa was also building his Orlando Pirates legacy before his career and life were cut short following his cold-blooded murder in October 2014.

However, for the time they shared together, coming through the ranks at their respective clubs before playing for national teams at various levels, Khune admits it was the best moment of his career.

Kaizer Chiefs legend Itumeleng Khune saves for Bafana Bafana. Photo – Imago

The former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana captain says both of them did things that had not been witnessed from a goalkeeper before, elevating the stature of goal minders unlike before.

Kaizer Chiefs great and ex-Orlando Pirates star raised the bar

“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 as quoted by iDiski Times.

“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.

The late Senzo Meyiwa saves for Orlando Pirates. Photo – Imago

“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.”

How Itumeleng Khune and Senzo Meyiwa motivated each other

Khune says Meyiwa and he would motivate each other just before a match and were never afraid to pull off spectacular saves that would get fans on the edge of their seats.

Itumeleng Khune celebrates in goal. Photo – Imago

“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,’” he further stated.

“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].”