He’s not running his game down – Kerr full of praise for Khune

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After working closely with Itumeleng Khune during this past weekend’s first round of the DStv Compact Cup, Warriors coach Dylan Kerr has praised the veteran goalkeeper who has struggled for game time at Kaizer Chiefs this season.

The 34-year-old Khune has only featured once for Stuart Baxter’s charges, which was Chiefs’ MTN8 quarter-final defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns in August as Daniel Akpeyi has been preferred in goal.

Many have questioned whether Khune’s time at Chiefs is coming to an end, but the former Bafana No 1 has ensured he is back on the lips of football fans in the country after a vintage performance in the league’s new competition, the DStv Compact Cup.

Khune shined as his heroic performance sent the Warriors to the final after they beat Amabutho 2-1 in the semi-final. They will now meet Coastal United in the final on Saturday at FNB Stadium.

Speaking to the media after the game, Kerr highlighted Khune’s performance suggesting he has given the Chiefs coaching department something to think about.

“It’s difficult because obviously he has not played at all [for Chiefs] but obviously Stuart, Dillon [Sheppard] and Arthur Zwane were watching this game and he didn’t let them down,” Kerr told the media after the game.

“Good attitude. I mean he worked his socks off in the last two days. I think he realised the amount of work the goalkeepers had to do when they did a training session with me.

“Credit to him, he made one save in the second half when we were under pressure and he kept us in the game.

“Khune [during] the whole game was outstanding because he has not played for a long time and to come into this competition, expectations are all on him because of who he is,” he said.

“The massive personality that he has in SA football … so for me, I thought he was man of the match, he deserves that today because he saved us.

“The goal that they scored he made a great save. Unfortunately, we didn’t react to the rebound.”