'Ball boy' Khune becomes South African star

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune became a shot-stopper by accident and is now considered among the best on the continent ahead of the 2013 Cup of Nations.

Desperate to support his family financially, he moved from north-western town Tshing to Johannesburg when only 12 for trials with popular and successful football club Kaizer Chiefs.

Fielded as a defender, the teenager developed chest problems during an age-limit trial and was ordered to stand beside a goalpost and become a ball boy.

As he dived spectacularly to block balls that missed the target, Khune caught the attention of a youth coach and a career that would take him to the national team had begun.

He was promoted to the first team squad and after a three-year wait got his chance when first choice Rowan Fernandez was transferred to a German Bundesliga club.

After making his debut against Jomo Cosmos at the start of the 2007-2008 South African Premiership, Khune quickly made the No 1 jersey his own and the Amakhosi (Chiefs) conceded only 19 goals in the 30-round league.

His international debut came less than a year later in a friendly against Zimbabwe and he has been the first choice for Bafana Bafana (The Boys) since amid several coaching reshuffles.

Khune reserves his best form for Brazil, giving a couple of outstanding performances in narrow home and away losses against the record five-time world champions.

It took a spectacular Dani Alves goal off a free-kick three minutes from time to beat him in a 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final at a packed Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg. (AFP)