The Amakhosi goalkeeper has paid glowing tribute to the outgoing club legend
Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma has paid glowing tribute to club legend Itumeleng Khune whom he credits for shaping his career.
Khune has been at Chiefs for 25 years but his association with the club is reportedly set to end this month when his contract expires.
It is still not known whether Khune desires to continue playing, or wants to take up another role at the club, but he looks to have played a major part in lifting the standards of the club’s other goalkeepers even if they were all vying for a starting place.
One of those who have benefited from his presence is Bvuma who has revealed the big impact Khune has had on his career at Chiefs.
‘When I didn’t have a contract, Itu was there for me’
“He taught me a lot, coming from the development,” Bvuma, who has worked his way through the ranks at Chiefs, told IDiski Times.
“He told me that I was in your situation before. I trained with the team while playing for the development team. When I didn’t have a contract, Itu was there for me. Itu was helping me. Sometimes I didn’t have money to come to training and Itu was there for me.
“So here we’re talking about someone that we looked up to growing up. I believe each and every goalkeeper looked up to Itumeleng Khune because of how he is and the person he is. He played a huge role in a lot of goalkeepers wanting to make it to the pro side and I’m also one of them.”
Bvuma was Chiefs’ most preferred goalkeeper last season
Bvuma has had to be patient to get opportunities and was the most preferred goalkeeper for Amakhosi last season, featuring in 19 games across all competitions, after dislodging Brandon Petersen.
His rise to prominence, however, came at a time Chiefs experienced their worst season which ended with a 10th place finish in the PSL.
With Khune leaving, Chiefs will likely add another goalkeeper, with Nigerian Stanley Nwabali of Chippa United linked, to their roster which will see increased competition for Bvuma given Petersen is still hoping to regain his place as first-choice next season.
