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Returning Khune to part ways with 'absent' agent

Itumeleng Khune during the MTN 8 Final match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium on September 20, 2014 in Durban, South Africa. Picture credits: Gallo Images
Itumeleng Khune during the MTN 8 Final match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium on September 20, 2014 in Durban, South Africa. Picture credits: Gallo Images

Itumeleng Khune is expected to part ways with his agent Dan Lichman following his career-threatening long wait to renew his contract at Kaizer Chiefs.

Khune yesterday agreed "in principle" to rejoin the club, ending what football fans saw as a soap opera.

While player and team are now happy, the biggest casualty in this long-drawn saga will be Khune's England-based agent Lichman who recently acted as director for Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group as Khune's representative. But he has hardly been seen as the goalkeeper searched for a team after his contract with Amakhosi ended in June.

"Khune took the initiative to go back and renegotiate with Chiefs. The agent has been nowhere. He promised to take him overseas, and to be frank, there have been no offers," said an insider familiar with the saga.

It is understood that Khune's contract with Lichman, whom Chiefs blamed for putting up what they deemed "excessive" demands for a contract renewal, expires at the end of the year. Lichman could not be reached for comment, and it's unknown if he'll seek compensation from Khune after he concluded an agreement without him.

Khune, along with Tefu Mashamaite and Mandla Masango, had been told he could leave at the end of his contract after negotiations broke down.

Prior to an official statement from Chiefs about Khune "returning home", the Bafana goalkeeper posted a picture of himself, dressed immaculately, on Twitter yesterday captioned: "Be walking in a Boardroom like this, please wish me luck good people. i hope all goes well. GODisGreat."

Neither he nor Amakhosi football manager Bobby Motaung, could not be reached for comment soon after their talks concluded.

Chiefs also confirmed that discussions with Masango were ongoing, while there was no mention of Mashamaite - who is still without a team - in their terse statement.

"Itumeleng will be returning home. The club still needs to follow internal procedures and processes, but in principle Itu is home. We welcome him," Amakhosi said.

Khune, who will miss tomorrow afternoon's Carling Black Label Cup against Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates, is expected to return to Naturena this morning to sign the contract and officially reunite with his teammates, with a medical being a formality.

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