Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has had a busy couple of months beginning with his inclusion to the Chiefs first team late in September as back up to Emile Baron while Rowen Fernandez was injured.

He then received a call up to the national under twenty three team as they took on Uganda in a two game series although he did not see any match action.

The young goalkeeper received a recall by Steve Komphela to the under twenty three team as they drew and than beat the Ivory Coast in a two match series at home, Khune entered the first game as a substitute in the first game and played the full ninety minutes in the second. He was able to keep a clean sheet in both the encounters, he than travelled with the under twenty three’s to Ivory Coast for a reciprocal two game series, while at the same time busy writing his matric examinations.

Upon completion of his matric examinations he packed his bags and moved off to Durban to join up with the national under twenty team to participate in the COSAFA U-20 tournament. He helped Amajita to a respectable fourth place finish and conceded three goals in five games, but was unfortunate along with his teammates when they got knocked out in the semi finals against Lesotho.

Khune speaks of his tournament experience, “it was wonderful to play so many games I felt I had a really good tournament and was just unfortunate especially in the penalty shoot out against Lesotho."

Khune guessed right for all of the ‘Mountain Boys’ spot kicks but was out done by some inconsistent refereeing. "The referee gave me a yellow card for moving on the line I don’t know how he interprets the law because as far as I know I was able to move on the line," added a confuse Khune.

Having joined Jabu Pule and Lucky Maselesele before him who when Chiefs players played at the same time for the under 23 and under 20 national teams, Khune is happy to have gained valuable experience in the COSAFA Cup and be amongst such illustrious company.

"The experience gained here will be carried with me to the under twenty three’s, like what ever I learned at Chiefs as carried me at the national teams I use all of this to help me grow as a player and become a better goalkeeper."

Itumeleng Khune now treads in illustrious footsteps imprinted by goal keeping legends such as Kaizer Chiefs former goalkeeper Brian Baloyi and current net minders Emile Baron and Rowen Fernandez who all after making an impact at the junior national teams than cemented their place in the senior Bafana Bafana squad.