Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune will be hoping his side can maintain their form in the Absa Premiership ahead of their clash against Bidvest Wits on 12 August.
The Glamour Boys were sitting at the top of the Absa Premiership standings with 48 points from 22 matches played before all football in South Africa was suspended due to COIVD-19.
However, the Premier Soccer League has since confirmed the resumption of the league on 11 August, which will see Amakhosi take on Bidvest Wits at the Orlando Stadium the following day.
Khune is hoping his side can pick up where they left off before the league came to a halt and not succumb to the same mistake likes Manchester United’s David de Gea and Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel.
‘It’s important for us to continue where we left off,’ Khune told his club’s official website.
‘Luckily, we have new technology, like the Zoom mobile app, via which we could have video communication. This helped the coaches to guide us on exercises to keep fit. It was a frustrating time, as we missed being on the field. We just had to hang in there.
‘I realise that the break, due to this Covid-19 pandemic, affected a lot of keepers, including Manchester United’s David de Gea and Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel. They didn’t seem to have the same confidence as before the break. There was clearly a lot of rustiness.
‘Luckily, we have had a bit more time to prepare before the league restarts. We have also discussed various aspects on our ‘Keeper Corner’, which is us goalies communicating with our goalkeeper coach Lee Baxter. It’s basically about learning from the past to go forward. Going back into the field will all be about mental strength… We just need to be ready come 11 August.
Speaking to the Amakhosi faithfuls, Khune said: ‘You are the driving force behind this team and we will miss you cheering us up when the league restarts. However, we still want to make you proud and you will be that pillar of strength for us. We are at present in the number one spot and we don’t want to disappoint you when we go past the finish line.’
