Brian Baloyi has shared some heartfelt advice for Itumeleng Khune, urging the veteran goalkeeper to consider retirement rather than seeking another playing contract. Baloyi, a former Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper himself, sympathizes with Khune’s situation but stresses the importance of being honest about one’s limitations.”In the past five years, he’s played under 50 games,” Baloyi pointed out, noting Khune’s struggles with fitness and weight management. “He’s my boy, and I really wanted to see him play overseas in his prime.
But now, he has to ask himself if his recent efforts justify another contract.”Baloyi reflects on his own career, sharing how he faced a similar decision after missing the 2010 World Cup squad. “In South Africa, many players don’t retire officially; they just fade out,” he explained, referencing players like Siphiwe Tshabalala and Morgan Gould, who also faced challenges in stepping away from the game.
Baloyi emphasizes the emotional difficulty of retiring from the only profession one has known since youth and suggests counseling as a tool to help players come to terms with their transitions out of professional sports.
