POLOKWANE, November 6 (ANA) – Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune looks set to miss South Africa’s two crucial World Cup qualifiers against Senegal after he was injured over the weekend playing for his club.
Khune took a serious blow to the face after clashing with Chippa United midfielder Kurt Lentjies five minutes from time during Chiefs’ 1-0 win in a Telkom Knockout quarterfinal match in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.
There had initially been hopes that the vastly experienced goalkeeper would make a sufficient recovery to feature for his country when they take on Senegal in a 2018 World Cup Group D qualifier in Polokwane on Friday night, as well as in the return game in Dakar next week Tuesday, 14 November.
But it has since emerged that the 30-year-old has broken a bone in his face close his right eye and although he is still to undergo further specialised testing on Monday, it’s understood that Khune will be out for at least a month, if not six weeks or more.
Stuart Baxter’s South African side need to beat Senegal both home and away in order to book their spot at the World Cup in Russia next year.
Khune, who has 84 caps to his name, has been in outstanding form for Chiefs this season. Apart from his leadership at the back, the Ventersdorp-born player is also a superb distributor and is able to set up quick counter-attacks through his pin-point goal kicks and throw-outs.
In Khune’s absence, the backup goalkeepers in the Bafana squad are SuperSport United’s Ronwen Williams – not yet fully proven at international level for all his obvious talent, and Orlando Pirates’ Wayne Sandilands, who has not been having the best of times for his club of late.
– African News Agency (ANA)
(Photo:KickOff)
