By Michael Madyira
Kaizer Chiefs left for Turkey on Thursday evening for a pre-season tour without their veteran goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune, whose contract expired at the end of June.
According to the club, the Soweto giants will spend almost three weeks in their host country and play friendly matches against top Turkish opposition.
Vina Maphosa, Amakhosi’s corporate communications officer, could not be reached to clarify Khune’s situation, but reports suggest the club is not keen on giving him a new deal.
He has been offered a non-playing role despite showing interest in continuing his goalkeeping career.
Chiefs went to Turkey with new signing Bongani Sam, who was previously with Orlando Pirates but has yet to be officially announced as a new player.
After Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns went to Europe during the last pre-season, Chiefs have taken a similar route.
Chiefs sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr said: “The most crucial aspect of a pre-season camp is to make sure that they are building team unity and overall mental readiness for the season ahead.
“These are vital as every top team needs to work together to build its internal strength to be prepared for the challenges ahead.”
Chiefs will be joined in Turkey by their new coach, Nasreddine Nabi, who has just finished his tenure as the Moroccan side AS FAR Rabat trainer.
“With a new coaching structure, it helps for the new team to have the squad away from their normal environment to assess what work must be done and how they need to work together in future,” Motaung said.
“We are looking forward to a very productive preparation process, and we hope the team will be able to focus on the job at hand as we gear towards starting the season very strongly.”
The trip to Turkey is Amakhosi’s first overseas trip in 21 years, following their 2003 trip to South Korea.
The Soweto giants will bid to end a nine-year trophy drought in the upcoming season.
Pictured above: Itumeleng Khune during the warm-up before a match.
Source: Kaizer Chiefs
