Itumeleng Khune’s goalkeeping error put Bafana Bafana under pressure in the match that effectively cost them their chances in their previous qualifying campaign for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
But SA’s goalkeeping stalwart said he does not feel personal pressure as Bafana embarked from OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday on a mission to get their 2018 World Cup qualifiers off to a better start against Burkina Faso on Saturday.
Khune’s goalkeeping error in just the fifth minute of Bafana’s Gabon 2017 qualifier in Nouakchott in September 2015‚ fumbling Aly Abeide’s innocuous free-kick through his arms‚ gifted Mauritania the lead and set up South Africa’s 3-1 defeat.
Following a 0-0 home draw against Gambia‚ Bafana’s chances of qualification were all but dashed after just two matches.
Khune said he has enough experience at 29‚ having played in World Cups and Nations Cup final tournaments‚ to know that goalkeeping errors happen to the best between the posts.
“I don’t feel it as much [personal pressure]‚ because I know I’ve got 10 more players on the field who are experienced as well‚” Kaizer Chiefs’ gloveman said.
“So all the pressure is on the team‚ not just me. But if certain individuals perform well the team will definitely do well.
“For me‚ what’s important is bouncing back form that mistake.
“It helped that after that‚ the coach still had faith in me. He gave me the responsibility to lead the team.
“Things like those happen to the world stars‚ and world’s best goalkeepers. And I managed to bounce back and perform well for the team.”
Khune was working his way back from an injury-plagued period when Bafana travelled to play on Nouakchott’s artificial turf. He grew in strength in the rest of SA’s failed 2017 campaign.
The keeper also had an excellent‚ confidence-boosting tournament for SA’s Olympic team at Rio 2016 in August.
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about – bouncing back from when you fall down‚” Khune said of his performance at the Olympics in Brazil‚ where SA drew against the hosts in the opening game but could not progress past the group stage.
“I’ve played in big tournaments – the World Cup‚ the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana at the age of 19.
“All that experience I have been collecting I think will work to the team’s advantage going into this campaign.”
Khune said SA’s experiences in their Nations Cup campaign‚ where they finished third in their group behind Cameroon and Mauritania‚ have heightened Bafana’s awareness this time of the need for a good start.
“It’s huge to start well. And it’s very important that we continue with the good brand of football‚ and we create chances and we take them.
“Because in the last campaign we played four draws‚ which is not good. If we had collected all those points we would have qualified for the Afcon.
“But I think it was a lesson learnt from all of us. So coming into the World Cup qualification I think we all know what is expected and what to do‚ and that’s to convert our chances.”
Bafana are drawn with Burkina Faso‚ Senegal and Cape Verde Islands in Group D of the Confederation of African Football’s (Caf) qualifiers for Russia 2018. - TMG Sport
Khune ‘feels no personal pressure’ ahead of Bafana’s opening World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso
Itumeleng Khune’s goalkeeping error put Bafana Bafana under pressure in the match that effectively cost them their chances in their previous qualifying campaign for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
But SA’s goalkeeping stalwart said he does not feel personal pressure as Bafana embarked from OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday on a mission to get their 2018 World Cup qualifiers off to a better start against Burkina Faso on Saturday.
Khune’s goalkeeping error in just the fifth minute of Bafana’s Gabon 2017 qualifier in Nouakchott in September 2015‚ fumbling Aly Abeide’s innocuous free-kick through his arms‚ gifted Mauritania the lead and set up South Africa’s 3-1 defeat.
Following a 0-0 home draw against Gambia‚ Bafana’s chances of qualification were all but dashed after just two matches.
Khune said he has enough experience at 29‚ having played in World Cups and Nations Cup final tournaments‚ to know that goalkeeping errors happen to the best between the posts.
“I don’t feel it as much [personal pressure]‚ because I know I’ve got 10 more players on the field who are experienced as well‚” Kaizer Chiefs’ gloveman said.
“So all the pressure is on the team‚ not just me. But if certain individuals perform well the team will definitely do well.
“For me‚ what’s important is bouncing back form that mistake.
“It helped that after that‚ the coach still had faith in me. He gave me the responsibility to lead the team.
“Things like those happen to the world stars‚ and world’s best goalkeepers. And I managed to bounce back and perform well for the team.”
Khune was working his way back from an injury-plagued period when Bafana travelled to play on Nouakchott’s artificial turf. He grew in strength in the rest of SA’s failed 2017 campaign.
The keeper also had an excellent‚ confidence-boosting tournament for SA’s Olympic team at Rio 2016 in August.
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about – bouncing back from when you fall down‚” Khune said of his performance at the Olympics in Brazil‚ where SA drew against the hosts in the opening game but could not progress past the group stage.
“I’ve played in big tournaments – the World Cup‚ the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana at the age of 19.
“All that experience I have been collecting I think will work to the team’s advantage going into this campaign.”
Khune said SA’s experiences in their Nations Cup campaign‚ where they finished third in their group behind Cameroon and Mauritania‚ have heightened Bafana’s awareness this time of the need for a good start.
“It’s huge to start well. And it’s very important that we continue with the good brand of football‚ and we create chances and we take them.
“Because in the last campaign we played four draws‚ which is not good. If we had collected all those points we would have qualified for the Afcon.
“But I think it was a lesson learnt from all of us. So coming into the World Cup qualification I think we all know what is expected and what to do‚ and that’s to convert our chances.”
Bafana are drawn with Burkina Faso‚ Senegal and Cape Verde Islands in Group D of the Confederation of African Football’s (Caf) qualifiers for Russia 2018. - TMG Sport
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