Bruce Bvuma (who has since been the club's number one goalkeeper) with Daniel Akpeyi (left the club), Itumeleng Khune (retired) and Brandon Petersen (second choice) of Kaizer Chiefs in 2021. | BackapagePix
Image: BackapagePix
Kaizer Chiefs’ No 1 Bruce Bvuma has responded to his idol and mentor Itumeleng Khune who recently lambasted him for not adhering to his advice.
Khune is a Chiefs legend, having spent his entire career at the club before leaving at the end of last season when his contract expired.
During his spell at Chiefs, Khune worked with various goalkeepers, including Bvuma who looked up to him before they shared the locker room as teammates.
Having been nurtured at Chiefs just like Khune, Bvuma was expected to be the heir to the throne when the former Bafana Bafana No 1 left the Naturena-based club.
Bvuma has gotten his chance this season, but hasn’t quite lived up to the lofty billing after conceding a lot of goals and struggled to organise his defence.
As such, Khune speaking to digital football platform iDiski Times recently, opened up on why he thinks Bvuma is struggling this season.
“I was grooming Ronwen (Williams,) when he came to Bafana, (and) I told him we are not here to make friends. We are here to compete,” Khune said.
“You make me better, I make you better, we make the national team better. So, he took those words.
“I fail to understand why Bruce Bvuma didn’t listen to that advice. Because now, the way he’s struggling (is a lot) - he should have taken my advice when I gave it to him.”
Bvuma, speaking at the club’s base on Thursday morning ahead of Chiefs’ Betway Premiership clash against Marumo Gallants at FNB Stadium on Saturday (3pm), responded to Khune.
He said: “Listen, Itu is a club legend. What he has done for the team, I don't think anyone in our generation will ever do.
“What he has done for the club is really big. I respect him. I do talk to Itu, so whatever that happened, happened, and whatever that he said, he said.
“My focus is on the team, and me doing well. I need to make sure that I live up to my full potential as well.”
Bvuma is bold enough to admit: “I could have done better, definitely”, but his focus now is “on the next game, as I have said”.
The 29-year-old, indeed, has to focus on the game against Gallants as a clean sheet would go a long way in keeping the team’s Top 8 aspirations alive.
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