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We can win the league‚ says Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune

Captain Itumeleng Khune of Kaizer Chiefs during the Kaizer Chiefs Media Open Day at Kaizer Chiefs Village on February 22, 2017 in Johannesburg.
Captain Itumeleng Khune of Kaizer Chiefs during the Kaizer Chiefs Media Open Day at Kaizer Chiefs Village on February 22, 2017 in Johannesburg.
Image: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

Kaizer Chiefs are in with a “big chance” of winning the Absa Premiership‚ captain and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune said on the day after leaders Mamelodi Sundowns dropped points against Free State Stars at home.

Khune revealed that Chiefs have a points target they are aiming for come the season close on May 12.

Sundowns were held to a 1-1 draw by tough Stars at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday night.

That result left second-placed‚ in-form Chiefs neatly positioned just five points behind the Brazilians with nine games to go as Amakhosi prepare to face 12th-placed Bloemfontein Celtic at FNB Stadium on Saturday night.

“It was a fair result. And that’s what we wanted‚” Khune said on Sundowns’ draw.

“But for us‚ we just have to focus on ourselves‚ focus on the goals that we’ve set for ourselves.

“There’s a point mark that we want to end the season on.

"And we will sit down after training as players‚ review how far we are from the point mark that we want to achieve‚ and then we’ll keep pushing and keep on taking it one game at a time.”

Khune chuckled at the notion that the current Chiefs‚ who have gone nine league and cup games unbeaten‚ are the best XI coach Steve Komphela has been able to put out in his trophyless two-and-a-half years.

“To be quite honest Kaizer Chiefs has always had good players.

"Kaizer Chiefs has always produced the best XI on the field‚ the bench and the ones in the stands‚” he said.

But Khune did admit that catching up a five-point gap on Sundowns‚ in a tight season‚ is possible if Chiefs maintain their form.

“Ja‚ no‚ there’s a big chance. But we can’t afford to drop the ball‚” Khune said.

“We can’t afford to be focusing elsewhere‚ but have to be focusing on us‚ and focusing on getting the results.

“We cannot afford to relax. Yes‚ with a five points’ difference it’s in our hands (to catch up).

"But we just have to keep pushing so that we reduce the lead to either one point or even be on top of Sundowns.”

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