Ex-Kaizer Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral blasts the club for the decision to freeze veteran keeper Itumeleng Khune amid struggles. Chiefs opted to freeze Khune out of the senior team following reports that he came to training under the influence of alcohol. Late last year, news emerged that Khune was found guilty of attending training smelling alcohol and the club acted swiftly to suspend him.
However, the move has irked the former coach, Ertugral who gave Khune his break at Naturena as a youngster taking over from Rowen Fernandes. Speaking to iDiski Times, the former Orlando Pirates mentor argues that Chiefs should have protected one of its most prized assets and senior players.
Ex-Chiefs Mentor Seriously Irked by Khune’s Treatment
Currently in South Africa, the Turkish and former Chiefs manager says it was sad to see Khune sidelined from the senior side. Chiefs released a statement that Khune was also stripped of his captain’s armband.
Being the longest-serving member at Chiefs with almost two decades under his belt, Khune hasn’t enjoyed a lot of game-time in recent seasons. He has only featured in five matches across all competitions before dropping down the pecking order as Cavin Johnson prefers Bruce Bvuma.
The former Ajax Cape Town mentor believes the 36-year-old Khune deserved better treatment because of his status at Amakhosi, saying management should have protected him by keeping certain information in-house instead of putting him on ice.
“It was sad for me to see. You don’t treat a player in that capacity [like that],” Ertugral told iDiski Times.
“In his most difficult times, he needs to have something to hold on to. And I couldn’t see that by Kaizer Chiefs. I mean, I can only say that now from the outside, I’m not involved, I don’t want to trigger negativity, but it could have helped him. It was a couple of years ago, the same story. And I’ve made it publicly, I remember that when I said publicly out, they should know there is only one Itu, there is no second Itu and there will never be a second Itu coming up in the next 50 years.”
“So for Kaizer Chiefs at that time, if I was in charge, I’d always try to protect my players, and a couple of things don’t get out. You don’t need to put certain things out in the public. You [don’t] need to do that.”
The seasoned mentor also looked back at some of the senior players he managed but experienced challenges at Chiefs.
“I mean, do you think that Jabu Pule was easy? Do you think that Doctor Khumalo was easy? Do you think Thabo Mooki was easy? Do you think that Arthur Zwane and Cyril Nzama were always easy? But they’re unbelievable artists, unbelievable,” concluded the coach.
Amakhosi Defender Set to Leave for AmaZulu
In a related piece involving the Glamour Boys, Sport Plus reported that forgotten defender Njabulo Ngcobo is set to be shipped out and he is linked with AmaZulu.
Ngcobo has been a bench warmer at Chiefs this season and his future remains a subject of speculation but talk is that he will head to Usuthu.
The former Moroka Swallows central defender, Ngcobo is now set to leave the Naturena-based Chiefs as the club looks to get rid of dead wood. SABC Sport reported that the 29-year-old defender could be transferred to join Pablo Franco Martin’s AmaZulu and his agent also confirmed the news.
“Kaizer Chiefs is a professional club, they communicate about their intentions. Unfortunately, they have not said anything about Njabulo Ngcobo,” Ngcobo’s agent, Sboniso Ngubane told SABC Sport.
Related: Chiefs Transfers: Forgotten Ngcobo Linked With AmaZulu