Goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma has revealed how a kind gesture by Kaizer Chiefs' legendary star Itumeleng Khune helped him during the start of his career.
Chiefs could be set to bid farewell to decorated goalkeeper Khune at the end of the season, having communicated at the start of the campaign that his current deal, which runs until 30 June 2024, would be his last in a playing capacity at the club.
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Like Khune, Bvuma came through the Amakhosi youth ranks and made his official senior debut in 2017.
The 29-year-old, who has taken over the number one goalkeeper spot at the Soweto giants, has revealed a little-known fact of how Khune helped the then-budding net minder.
"Itu is a legend… he taught me a lot, coming from the development," Bvuma told journalists.
"When I got to the team, Itu told me, 'I've been in your situation before'.
"I was training with the first team when I was still playing for the development without a first-team contract, and Itu was there for me.
"He was helping me. Sometimes I didn't have money to come to training and Itu was there for me, so here we are talking about that we looked up to growing [up]. Each and every one of us. I believe every goalkeeper looked up to Itumeleng Khune, because of how he is and the person he is.
"He played a huge role in a lot of goalkeepers wanting to make it pro and I'm also one of them.
"So, I will definitely miss his personality, his willingness to work hard. The secret to Chiefs producing all these top goalkeepers is definitely hard work. Itu is a hard worker. I've seen it. He does it even now; he keeps on working hard. The extra effort that he does.
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"Obviously, if you want to be better than others, you need to give more and so those are some of the things that he taught me. That is why he has managed to be where he is today."
The Ventersdorp-born player was honoured by the club for his 25 years of service to the Glamour Boys ahead of Saturday's 0-0 draw against Polokwane City.
Cavin Johnson's men have a tricky assignment as a last fixture of the season, squaring up against a Cape Town Spurs side that has nothing to lose having already been relegated, on Saturday at DHL Cape Town Stadium.
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