The return of Itumeleng Khune to Kaizer Chiefs spells a death-knell for ‘player power’ and puts the club bosses back in control of the game.
In an era where players demand – and often get – exorbitant salaries, the fact that a player of Khune’s calibre has failed to find a club will send a clear indication to the players that the clubs will not be held to ransom.
Chiefs yesterday reported, on their website, that the country’s No1 goalkeeper will once again be turning out for them.
“The club has reached an agreement in principle with goalkeeper Itumelng Khune and he will be joining us,” read the www.kaizerchiefs.com statement “Some internal procedures still need to take place though and then the deal will be 100percent finalised.”
Khune’s return to Chiefs will no doubt be humbling to a player who seemingly expected to have clubs fighting over his signature when he decided not to renew his contract unless his demands were met.
Yet with Chiefs making it clear during the off-season that they were not going to pander to the whims of the goalkeeper they had groomed from an early age, or any player for that matter, the battle lines between players and clubs were drawn.
Back then, a clearly incensed Kaizer Motaung – the Chiefs owner and chairman – had accused Khune of trying to dictate to them, saying the goalkeeper had been ill-advised.
“We cannot be held to ransom by anyone. It does not take one or two players to make a team, it takes a helluva lot of players to make a team. So therefore we cannot be held to ransom. That is a message that is very clear to everybody irrespective of who the players are,” Motaung had said when announcing the departure of Khune, Tefu Mashamaite and Mandla Masango from the club.
With their international stature, the trio would ordinarily have had the rest of the Premiership – and possibly international clubs – chasing after their signatures.
But you knew that was not going to happen when even Mamelodi Sundowns – the club that revolutionised player salaries by paying telephone number-type wages – said through their coach Pitso Mosimane that they couldn’t afford them.
“I believe Khune is the No1 goalkeeper in the country. But it’s not easy to sign the player, you know. If you want to sign a player, you must also afford him,” Mosimane said “Not to say they are not good. But for the number of minutes you play and the amount of money you earn, I cannot justify, as a coach, to say I can keep this player.”
And Chiefs were adamant on their stance that Khune, and the other players, will need to humble themselves if they were to return to Naturena.
Said team manager Bobby Motaung during the pre-season: “They have been playing hardball and making ridiculous demands. In life you must humble yourself. They have attempted to meet with us, but we are in pre-season. We are moving on as an organisation; we have a team that needs to be prepared. If they come here, they must have an understanding of what they want. They are free, they don’t have contracts, so if there are clubs out there, why don’t they sign them?”
While Khune had seemingly priced himself out of the market, Masango was reported to have turned down Black Aces.
The latter, according to yesterday’s statement by Chiefs, is still in negotiations with the club.
“Mandla Masango’s talks with the club are still ongoing and we will update you.”
Khune’s tweet ahead of his meeting with Chiefs yesterday was very telling. The goalkeeper said to his followers: “By walking into the boardroom like this (smileyface) please wish me luck good people. I hope all goes well, God is great.”
If the country’s No1 goalkeeper needs luck in negotiations, what hope is there for the rest? The power has clearly shifted to the club bosses. - The Star