Chiefs could dump Khune after 14 years

There has been no progress on talks between star goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and league leaders Kaizer Chiefs to extend his contract past the end of the season, raising the possibility that the 27-year-old might have played his last game for the club, where he has been for 14 years.

Officials and agents, speaking on condition of anonymity, have confirmed no new deal has been signed with just one month left before Khune is free to enter into contract negotiations with other parties.

Premier Soccer League rules allow players with six months left on their deal to sign a pre-contract with another club.

It is no secret the Bafana Bafana captain wants to play overseas and has changed his agents twice in the past 18 months to try to effect a deal.

He is now on the books of a British-based group who also represent England captain Wayne Rooney of Manchester United, and he will have been hoping they can fix him a deal in Europe.

But the injury he suffered near the start of the season could stymie those plans as it has left Khune without any game time and an increasingly slim chance of making the Africa Cup of Nations finals squad for Equatorial Guinea - thereby depriving him of an important international shop window.

Chiefs are unlikely to rush him back to give him a chance to impress Shakes Mashaba in the matches before Christmas if they know he is going to leave, and there will also be little point in playing him in the team in the New Year if he signs a pre-contract elsewhere.

Chiefs are not in a corner when it comes to making a decision. Brilliant Khuzwayo has shown fine form - he was picked as Bafana back-up goalkeeper for last month's Afcon qualifiers against the Sudan and Nigeria - and Reyaad Pieterse is seen as the club's long-term prospect. Mamelodi Sundowns have long been interested in Khune's services.

Khune's last game for Chiefs was a 2-0 win over Supersport United in late August.

He has played 214 times for the club, winning one league title, one Nedbank Cup and two Telkom Knockout medals.

Khune joined the club as a 13-year-old, sleeping at the train station so he did not miss practice.

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