Itumeleng Khune has shared insights into why Kaizer Chiefs’ young players seem to struggle more compared to the academy products at Orlando Pirates. Khune pointed out that the Buccaneers have had a successful run in recent seasons, especially with players like Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota, who have made a significant impact.
Khune, who was part of the Chiefs squad last season but was released after not being part of coach Nasreddine Nabi’s plans, discussed how the different managerial situations at both clubs affect young talent. He explained in an interview with iDiskiTimes that the lack of consistency at Chiefs has hampered their youngsters’ development. While Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has been with the team for three seasons, building trust and providing consistent game time for his players, Nabi is still trying to find his best lineup at Chiefs.
Khune emphasized that the experimentation with different lineups at Chiefs has led to inconsistency, especially for the younger players. He used Mduduzi Shabalala as an example, noting how he started the season strong, scoring crucial goals, but has since struggled to maintain consistency as the coach continues to search for the right combinations. This has prevented the youngsters from getting into a steady rhythm, unlike their counterparts at Pirates, who have been given more opportunities and trust from the coach.
