Itumeleng Khune

Khune began his international career with South Africa at youth level when he was selected to the Under-17 team in 2002, following his performances for Gauteng in the interprovincial tournament. There, he competed with fellow goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa for the number-one position. Meyiwa initially held the advantage, but Khune gradually established himself as he progressed through the national youth teams. By the time he reached the under-20 level, Khune had emerged as the first-choice goalkeeper. He was part of the South African team that competed at the 2005 Cosafa U20 Championship, where he helped his country finish fourth after conceding three goals in five matches. His performances earned him the Goalkeeper of the Tournament Award. Khune was also introduced to the Under-23 setup during the same period, making his debut under former Under-20 coach Steve Komphela. He subsequently became a regular for the Under-23 team during their campaign to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. South Africa ultimately failed to qualify for the tournament, bringing Khune's youth career to an end. He received his first senior call-up in 2007 when Carlos Alberto Parreira selected him for the 2007 COSAFA Cup. He did not make any appearance as South Africa won the tournament. Khune was also selected for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations but remained unused once again, with Moeneeb Josephs featuring in goal as South Africa finished bottom of Group D with two points. He finally made his…

Khune started out as a striker when he arrived for trials at Chiefs in 1999, but assumed the gloves by chance after he experienced chest problems during a junior game and found himself being reduced to a ball boy. Diving for balls that had missed the target he caught the attention of youth coach Terror Sephoa who converted him to a goalkeeper. In 2004, he was promoted to the first team. After three years of waiting to get any game time, Khune finally got his opportunity in the early stages of the 2007–08 season after the departure of number one goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez to German club Arminia Bielefeld. With the experienced Emile Baron often plagued by injuries, Khune was made number one by then Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral. He made his PSL debut against Jomo Cosmos on 25 August 2007. His first season in the top-flight was highly successful as several match-winning displays for his side earned him a host of individual awards with Chiefs having the best defensive record in the league conceding only 19 goals in 30 games. In his second season, he often struggled to regain the form and consistency of the previous season even though Chiefs managed to finish third in the standings and win the MTN 8. During the 2009–10 season a finger injury sidelined Khune for three months giving understudy Arthur Bartman a chance to play regularly in his absence. In October 2011, Khune was assigned as captain replacing Jimmy Tau. The 2012–13 season was arguably his best with Khune leading his…

FifaPlayerRatings.com rates Khune in the top 10 of the goalkeepers in FIFA 15 and 525th overall. Khune is described as a player with "higher than normal diving skills and reflexes, making him a skilled close-shot and free-kick stopper with elite kicking abilities and accurate goal kicks and punts, taking pressure off his defense and creating attacking opportunities for his offense. He is technically skilled with his weak foot as well, which will allow him to accurately clear the ball with either foot when under pressure."

Khune was born in Tshing, Ventersdorp in the North West as one of six children of Elias and Flora Khune. He is of Tswana heritage. His father Elias, worked as a driver at a mine in Carletonville and also played amateur football as a striker. Unlike many South African players who cite kicking a football on their hometown's dusty streets as their starting point, Khune was in love with cricket idolising Nicky Boje. He eventually decided to pursue a career in football to earn a living for him and his family. He attended New Nation, Westridge, St Barnabas and RW Fick High Schools. His younger brother Lucky Khune previously played as a striker for Chiefs and currently for PSL side Chippa United. In 2019 Khune and his wife Sphelele Makhunga got married traditionally.