ITUMELENG KHUNE

KHUNE

Itumeleng Khune was born 20 June 1987, in South Africa at Ventersdorp, North West, position playing goal keeper. He was part of Bafana Bafana's 2008 African Nations Cup squad but was not fielded until he made his international debut against Zimbabwe on 11 March 2008.

Khune was selected for the 2010 FIFA World Cup as Carlos Alberto Parreira's first-choice goalkeeper and made some good saves in the opening match against Mexico. However on 16 June 2010 he was sent off against Uruguay when he tripped Luis Suárez inside the penalty area in the 77th minute.

Current team, Kaizer Chiefs. Khune’s ability as a goalkeeper has been on the rise ever since he famously faced off against deadly striker Fernando Torres in the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup and defied the Spaniard with a save which displayed his inherent talent for performing on the big stage.

The goalkeeper may want to put the memories of the 2010 World Cup on the backburner, but he has risen from the ashes of South Africa’s early demise three years ago. Earning the captaincy of both his club side and the national team, Khune is fast becoming an icon of South African football for the current generation.