JOHANNESBURG – Clean sheets have been hard to come by so far this season for Itumeleng Khune, but the Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper says he’s never been in better shape.
The shot stopper has recently come under some heavy criticism regarding his weight, and on Thursday morning he admitted that this was also the cause to some of his injuries.
“I have been working extremely hard at the gym. I remember last season there was a game we played against Golden Arrows and I was criticised about my weight – there I was thinking it comes with age, the older you get, you know,” said a smiling Khune.
“But I realised I was even suffering from a lot of injuries because I was overweight. I needed to do something about it.
"I went for consultations and got some advice, started eating well, drinking my fluids and putting in extra work. I weigh 84 (kilograms) and at some point I was at 92 but my target now is 78. I know once I get there people will say I must go test for HIV, and I will go do it in public to prove that is not the reason for the weight loss.”
Khune: I was overweight and needed to do something about it. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Bafana coach Stuart Baxter, whose son Lee is the Chiefs goalkeeper coach, even complimented Khune recently for cutting down the fat saying he looked sharp.
Khune, the national team’s No.1, will be hoping his new found physical condition can now also help him concede fewer goals in the upcoming games starting with their home fixtures against AmaZulu on Saturday evening.
Chiefs have generally struggled to keep clean sheets this season, and have let in nine goals in the eight games Khune has started.
@superjourno
IOL Sport
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