Khune On The Verge Of Record

Itumeleng Khune will likely take a step closer to becoming South Africa’s most capped goalkeeper when Bafana Bafana take on Nigeria in Mbombela.


Khune will start in the match and earn his 66th cap for Bafana, leaving him one behind the record-holder for goalkeepers, Andre Arendse.

Arendse, who had a nine-year national team career between 1994 and 2005, and was in goal when South Africa won the African Nations Cup in 1996 made 67 national team appearances, although Khune has already overtaken him in the number of starts – he has started every one of his 65 international matches to date.

Arendse started 64 games and had three appearances off the bench.

Khune has conceded 49 goals in his national team career and will hope to hold off on that 50th beyond this weekend. Arendse let in 53 goals in his 67 appearances.

And Khune has called on fans to “come in numbers and help us defeat Nigeria on Sunday”.

Speaking after a national team ‘meet and greet’ session at the Ilanga Mall in Mbombela yesterday, the Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper said: “It was hectic out there but we love it as players. The fans deserve our love and as much as they appreciate us we must also appreciate them. They use their hard-earned money to come watch us play so we have to respond by getting good results to put smiles on their faces.

“We are also saying; we value your support so come in numbers and help us defeat Nigeria this Sunday. It’s going to be a very difficult match and with the fans by our side it will really help a lot.

Nigeria did not call up Khune’s opposite number, the highly-rated France-based Vincent Enyeama, who is struggling with back pain. Either Theophilus Afelokhai of Kano Pillars or Daniel Akpeyi of Warri Wolves will keep goal.

Other stars missing are John Obi Mikel and Brown Ideye – both injured – and striker Emmanuel Emenike.

Established internationals included in the Super Eagles squad are Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor, Turkey), Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough, England), Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio, Italy), Babatunde Michael (Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine) and Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia).

The match takes place at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday and the game will get underway by15h30.

A curtain-raiser, between South Africa Under-17s (Amajimbos) and Mali Under-17s gets underway at 12h30.