Itumeleng Khune opens up about treatment of over-30s players in the PSL

Former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has revealed that his wages were reduced in order to continue playing during his 30s. The ex-Bafana Bafana star expressed his disappointment with how players in that age group are treated in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Khune believes the issue is partly responsible for his current unemployment, stating that at 37, he is no longer focused on earning money from football. He has recently launched his own betting company, but his priority, he says, has always been the love of the game rather than financial gain.

“With my situation, for years I’ve been reading and hearing that, ‘Oh, Itu has agreed to take 50%.’ So, for me, it wasn’t all about money anymore. It was about playing football and making people happy like I’ve been doing. Hence, I’ve taken those salary cuts; I asked the club,” Khune explained.

He continued, “It’s not about the money anymore, it’s about the love of the game. But there was nothing I could have done because the club gave me the respect and said, ‘You can go wherever you want to go if you want to continue playing.’”

Khune also stated that he could not imagine playing for another South African club apart from Kaizer Chiefs, where he spent his entire career. “I didn’t see myself representing any other team in South Africa apart from Kaizer Chiefs,” he said. “I didn’t see myself wearing another jersey.”

Khune also highlighted the growing trend in the PSL of reducing wages for older players. “Unfortunately, it’s becoming a trend that at a certain age, and obviously with the bracket you find yourself in when it comes to the payments, clubs are looking into that nowadays. The older you are, the less money you must get. Those are the kinds of decisions you also have to make at some point,” he said.

Also read: