Itumeleng Khune is happy to be back in the Bafana Bafana fold and his main priority is to reclaim the No 1 jersey he lost during his three-month hiatus as a result of a recurring injury.
Khune's other goal is to reclaim the two endorsement deals he lost during the long-term injury.
"I want to prove to the coaches that I deserve my No 1 jersey back," Khune said yesterday.
"The past three months have been frustrating because of the injury. I lost two endorsement deals because I was not playing for both the club and country. But I have been given another chance at Bafana and I'm positive I will reclaim those deals as soon as I get back into Bafana."
Khune got injured when Chiefs were said to be about to engage him in negotiations for a new contract. His current contract expires in June and Khune has been non committal about a new deal with Amakhosi.
Though he acknowledged that he was more experienced than the other two goalkeepers in the current Bafana squad, the 27-year-old does not expect to just walk into the starting line-up. Khune has been drafted into the 30-member Bafana squad to play two friendlies against Swaziland and Nigeria on Wednesday and Sunday. Brilliant Khuzwayo is his teammate at Chiefs, while Jackson Mabokgwane mans the sticks at Mpumalanga Black Aces.
Asked how he felt to be called up at same time with Khuzwayo, Khune said it was exciting.
"... both of us will need to go out there and prove who deserves to play because only one of us has to play on the day, whether here at Chiefs or Bafana.
"The coaches will decide if they need Itu's experience, but whoever performs well in the camp between the three of us will deserve the nod."
He admitted that at one stage he feared losing his place in Bafana.
"Khuzwayo and Darren Keet did well for Bafana ... but I remained positive that I would come back."
Khune out to win no1 spot
Itumeleng Khune is happy to be back in the Bafana Bafana fold and his main priority is to reclaim the No 1 jersey he lost during his three-month hiatus as a result of a recurring injury.
Khune's other goal is to reclaim the two endorsement deals he lost during the long-term injury.
"I want to prove to the coaches that I deserve my No 1 jersey back," Khune said yesterday.
"The past three months have been frustrating because of the injury. I lost two endorsement deals because I was not playing for both the club and country. But I have been given another chance at Bafana and I'm positive I will reclaim those deals as soon as I get back into Bafana."
Khune got injured when Chiefs were said to be about to engage him in negotiations for a new contract. His current contract expires in June and Khune has been non committal about a new deal with Amakhosi.
Though he acknowledged that he was more experienced than the other two goalkeepers in the current Bafana squad, the 27-year-old does not expect to just walk into the starting line-up. Khune has been drafted into the 30-member Bafana squad to play two friendlies against Swaziland and Nigeria on Wednesday and Sunday. Brilliant Khuzwayo is his teammate at Chiefs, while Jackson Mabokgwane mans the sticks at Mpumalanga Black Aces.
Asked how he felt to be called up at same time with Khuzwayo, Khune said it was exciting.
"... both of us will need to go out there and prove who deserves to play because only one of us has to play on the day, whether here at Chiefs or Bafana.
"The coaches will decide if they need Itu's experience, but whoever performs well in the camp between the three of us will deserve the nod."
He admitted that at one stage he feared losing his place in Bafana.
"Khuzwayo and Darren Keet did well for Bafana ... but I remained positive that I would come back."
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