Cape Town – He almost single-handedly kept Bafana Bafana in the game with a number of brilliant saves, but Itumeleng Khune nearly didn’t play against Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou.
The Bafana Bafana No 1 was the main reason that Shakes Mashaba’s team emerged with a 1-1 draw in a 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier at the August 4 Stadium as Khune saved one penalty and another was blasted over the top, while he was almost a lone ranger in keeping the Burkinabe at bay.
Khune actually didn’t concede during the 90 minutes, as Banou Diawara scored the equaliser in the first minute of stoppage time. But the 29-year-old Kaizer Chiefs captain had a tummy bug before the match, and medication prescribed to him didn’t work.
“I had to drink Coca-Cola on the way to the stadium, and somehow that did the trick. I was still having cramps here and there but told myself, I have to do it for my country,” Khune told the SA Football Association website on Sunday.
Khune was feeling the effects in the closing stages and was unfortunately booked for supposed time-wasting by Moroccan referee Redouane Jiyed when he was receiving treatment for cramp.
Dean Furman gave Bafana the lead with a well-struck shot from the edge of the box in the 80th minute, but Mashaba’s side couldn’t hold out for all three points as Diawara netted.
“It could have been better had we held on for all the three points, but we can settle for that point. It is a good point nevertheless,” Khune said.
“Our problem is that we defended too deep after taking the lead, and somehow something was bound to give in. Having said that, I still think we have ourselves to blame for not holding firm till the end, but that is football.
“We must make all our home matches a must-win and then collect a point or win away from home. We can do that.”
Bafana left Ouagadougou on Sunday and will travel via Abidjan in the Ivory Coast as they make their way to Durban for Tuesday night’s friendly against Ghana at the Moses Mabhida Stadium (7pm kick-off).
South Africa’s next World Cup qualifier is against Senegal at home on November 12, at a venue to be confirmed.
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