Tears flow as Khune's dream comes true
Tears flow as Khune's dream comes true
Posted: 2007-12-04 07:04
Hero of the Telkom Knockout Cup final, Kaizer Chiefs’ goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was close to tears after Amakhosi’s dramatic penalty shoot-out victory of Mamelodi Sundowns at the weekend.
Speaking to Kick Off following his impressive stops on Esrom Nyandoro, Peter Ndlovu and Patrick Apataki, the young minder said: “This is a dream come true for me…playing in the final and winning.
“I have dreamt about this since I was young. And having been waiting for this opportunity ever since the day I joined Chiefs,” he adds.
Amakhosi defender Jimmy Tau believes that Chiefs hungered for victory more than Sundowns.
“We prepared very well for the game and it paid off. We followed the coach’s instructions because he reminded us that we would be throwing everything away if we gave the game to Sundowns.
“We had worked very hard to get into the final so our defence kept focus at the back. We are all very happy but we need to keep on winning in the games leading up to Christmas,” said a clearly elated Tau who had a tough night following the industrious Lerato Chabangu.
Meanwhile, Gordon Igesund has defended the performance put up by his charges.
“Firstly, congratulations to Kaizer Chiefs for winning. I think it was a magnificent final but in the second half we controlled the game. I told my players to start playing the ball and they did. We got couple of opportunities but Khune did well between the posts.
“He also did well to save the penalties because we did practice penalties and Apataki was very impressive. …things just did not work out on the day.
“I am happy with the way we played and there is nothing that I could have done differently.”
Sundowns goalkeeper, Brian Baloyi who was booked for time wasting late in the second half, said that the Brazilians were content about the draw and going to penalties, however, Igesund denies these were instructions to his players.
“I told the guys to keep on attacking and they did just that. The reason Brian did that maybe was to cool down and also wait for one of our players outside the pitch who was receiving treatment.”
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