Just over a month away from his 20th Birthday Itumeleng Khune received an early birthday present on Thursday, when South Africa’s Brazilian FIFA World Cup winning Carlos Alberto Parreira included him in 20 men Bafana Bafana Squad for next weekends COSAFA Cup Tournament in Swaziland. Khune who turns 20 on the 20th June has for the past two season been simultaneously playing for the national u-20 and u-23 teams, the experienced gained with the junior national teams coupled with the regular game time he has gotten under his belt campaigning with the Chiefs reserves in the recently formed PSL Reserve League. Has allowed for the young goalkeeper tipped for a starring role by many in the future of the South African national team, to further hone his talents as well as having the platform to show that he will be able to one day mount a serious can challenge for the Bafana Bafana number one jersey.

In the meantime though Khune has been pleasantly surprised by his inclusion in Parreira’s team, which will get together on Tuesday in Johannesburg before jetting off to Swaziland later next week. Where they will face the flames of Malawi at the Somhlolo Stadium on the 26th May, victory against Malawi will see South Africa play either Mauritius or Swaziland on the 27th May and a win in their next game will see Bafana Bafana progress further in the tournament. KaizerChiefs.com managed to sneak in a few questions to a truly delighted Khune on Thursday as he spoke about his surprise at being called up and his optimism at the fact that he could get some game time with the senior national team

KC.COM: Itumeleng who broke the news to you about your call up to the national team for the COSAFA Cup games in Swaziland next weekend, and what was your initial reaction?

IK: On Thursday’s we usually have a lot of people from the media at our training sessions, after the morning training a number of the guys who came to the village had gone to the Bafana Bafana squad announcement before coming over to watch us train. Ryan Wuest got hold of the team sheet from one of the press guys and came and showed it to me, prior to him showing me the team sheet I thought it was all a big joke and that he was just messing around with my head. When I did get hold of the squad list I was shocked and then jumped up and down, I can’t describe the way I felt I was elated.

KC.COM: What did you do thereafter?

IK: Once the call up was confirmed a number of the guys came up and congratulated me, after that I called up my parents and spoke to my father who could not controlled in happiness. He was screaming and crying all at the same time, hearing my father so happy was the highlight of my day. All through my younger days he was there with me and he got me started out playing the game and he always encouraged and supported me, the first step in my career was signing for Chiefs with the call up by Parreira I have taken the next step.

KC.COM: As South Africa will be playing two games in Swaziland next weekend, does that make you optimistic that you could earn your first cap for the senior national team?

IK: Although I feel just getting a call up alone to be part of the national team training camp is the kind of experience that I needed at my age, I would obviously love to get the opportunity to play some part in the COSAFA Cup. Like I said earlier at my age the experience is what counts being part of the set up, working hard at training demonstrating my commitment to the success of the team to the coach is what will be fore most on my mind. If I get to play that will really be a bonus and if I am given the chance I do feel that with the help of the other players in the team I will be ready to take up my place between the sticks.

KC.COM: Looking ahead to next season what would you have hoped to achieve by the end of the 2007 – 2008 season?

IK: My first priority is to start winning a place in the Kaizer Chiefs first team and I do feel that if I continue to work hard I will get my chance perhaps sooner rather than later, I do understand that playing week in and week out is very much different to national team football. Playing with the reserves has helped improve my game as well get accustomed to the rigours of competing in tough competitive games every week; as a result of playing in these games weekly there has been a holistic improvement to my game. When it comes to the national teams I feel that I need to consolidate my place in the u-23 team by helping them do well in the qualifiers, with the aim being to make it to Beijing for next years Olympics as well as qualify for the All Africa Games. We are in a very tough Olympic qualifying group and I will use the reserve league games to keep in shape, as I will need to be on the top of my game, as we will be facing a number of formidable opponents the likes of Nigeria.

KC.COM: Khune once again congratulations on your call up, and hope there will be many more for you after this?

IK: Every South African soccer player would like to be part of the national team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup; this is the first step for me towards trying to realize that dream. This is not the end of the line the hard work starts for me now, the fact that the coach has called me up is a testimony to all the hard work that has been put in by many people towards ensuring my success. Kaizer Chiefs have invested in me, as I have been with the club since I was around fifteen years old, as well Rainer Dinkelacker and the other goalies at Chiefs for me this has to be the beginning of a long relationship with the national team.