When Itumeleng Khune, as a 17 year old apprentice, was promoted by Ted Dumitru to the first team mid way through the 2004 – 2005 season, he was fundamentally Chiefs fourth choice goalkeeper behind Rowen Fernandez, Emille Baron and Aubrey Mathibe.

It was no surprise that him and Mathibe would conjure up a friendship as they both fought on in the hope that they would soon enough be in the reckoning for a starting place between the sticks. Mathibe could wait no longer and left The Amakhosi and headed across Soweto to join Moroka Swallows where he has played his football since the start of the 2006 – 2007 season.

In the meantime Itumeleng Khune stuck around and bided his time, gaining invaluable experience playing in the reserves as well as with two junior national teams. With the departure of Rowen Fernandez and the arrival of Muhsin Ertugral as coach, who has been known for blooding younger players, the door was open for Khune.

After impressing in recent games, he has clearly established himself as the Chiefs number one and on Wednesday evening when Chiefs tackle Swallows, Khune and Mathibe will play a big part in determining which way the three points go. How the tide has turned for the two young keepers who, at one stage, were the substitute goalkeepers for Chiefs, and in Durban on Wednesday they will have come full circle as they take up their positions between the posts for their teams in Chiefs' first Soweto derby in the ABSA Premiership.

Dinkelacker praise for Mathibe

For one man on the Chiefs bench, seeing Khune and Mathibe’s names at the top of the Swallows and Chiefs team sheets would give him a real sense of personal satisfaction as he has over the past few years worked tirelessly with both keepers.

That man is Chiefs goalkeeper coach Rainer Dinkelacker who spoke about the two keepers saying, “For me, on a personal level, having worked for so many years with Mathibe it pleases me to see him doing so well at a team of Swallows stature. When he was with us it was just unfortunate that he was always in a team with good goalkeepers, we always knew he had the potential to do well and he is doing just that.”

Goalie coach happiness

Having two goalkeepers that he has nurtured taking to the field in a game of this magnitude is something that Rainer has not given much thought to in the build up to the game, as he has instead focused on preparing Itumeleng Khune for Wednesday evening’s game.

“Itumeleng and Aubrey were always willing to work hard and today they have both been rewarded by getting the opportunity to play for two really great teams. Itumeleng has been phenomenal for us over the season and he has had the chance to play in some big games already so I feel that Itumeleng will be able to handle the pressure of Wednesday’s derby. One of his greatest assets is that he is mentally strong that will help him face up to the challenge of Swallows.”

Khune on the ground

Patience was a true virtue for both Khune and Mathibe as they both stuck around at the Amakhosi long enough to gain valuable experience working under Dinkelacker’s tutorship. With Mathibe, the Chiefs goalie coach feels that keeping Itumeleng Khune’s feet on the ground will help the young keeper excel and achieve loftier heights.

“We cannot doubt the fact that Itumeleng has done well for the team recently. I have reiterated to him that contrary to what is being said in the newspapers, he is far from a superstar. He has made a lot of sacrifices to get to this stage and it cannot be wiped out by him letting his guard down. With regards to Wednesday’s game, I will safely say that even at this early stage of his career he is one for the big games.”