Khune's future still talk of town as Wits step up

Speculation about the future of goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune at Kaizer Chiefs continues to rage as Amakhosi line up to face Bidvest Wits in tonight's Absa Premiership fixture at the FNB Stadium.

Conjecture was fuelled yesterday by a full-page advertisement that featured in major newspapers for the Carling Black Label Cup. The advert depicted the Chiefs and Pirates line-ups but the Chiefs squad did not include Khune, although other players like Katlego Mphela and Mulomowandau Mathoho were also missing.

Khune, who has had an injury-plagued season, has not been brought back into the starting line-up since being sent off for earning a double booking for time-wasting and then remonstration in Chiefs' 1-0 win against AmaZulu on April 9.

He seems unlikely to feature for the champions again tonight, based on the strong performances in goal of the towering Reyaad Pieterse.

Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung would not comment yesterday on the advertisement promoting next season's friendly between Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, which featured 14 senior players from both Soweto giants.

"I'm dealing with player contract issues next week. I don't want to comment now," was all Motaung would say yesterday.

After breaking Sundowns' record of 65 points from last year, midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala said this week Chiefs still had the motivation of a place in history setting a record that would surely stand for many seasons as motivation.

"We have broken the record, but if you still want more you still have to get results," Tshabalala said.

Wits' ultra-competitive, perfectionist coach Gavin Hunt has become increasingly frustrated at his side's inability to string together consistent results.