As a result of having lost his phone it meant that getting hold of the Chiefs coach would not be easy, just as the South African Football Association found out as they tried tirelessly on Friday to contact Ertugral to inform him that one of his players had been drafted in as a replacement to the Bafana Bafana squad that would face the United States of America in the Nelson Mandela Inauguration Challenge on Saturday afternoon.

Khune en-route

When the information eventually got through to the Chiefs coach, he was told that his current first choice goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, had been called up as a replacement for Moeneeb Josephs who had a groin injury. During training on Friday afternoon, Khune was able to make his way to join up with club team mate Siphiwe Tshabalala who was already with the national team.

While he has played for various junior national teams and been part of the Bafana Bafana team for the COSAFA Cup ¼ Finals a few months ago, this is the first time that Khune has been called up to the full strength Bafana Bafana team that includes South Africa’s foreign based players as well.

De Ja Vu

Khune, who replaced the Wits keeper for South Africa’s upcoming friendly internationals has been one of the finds of the season, will in all likelihood stand as back for Rowen Fernandez, his former team mate at Chiefs in both of South Africa’s friendly on Saturday against the USA, and next Tuesday when Bafana Bafana play Canada in Durban.

When first promoted to the Kaizer Chiefs first team during the 2004 – 2005 season. Khune was an understudy to Fernandez, and will relish the opportunity to work with his friend and former club mate at the Amakhosi.