South African football legend Itumeleng Khune has delivered a serious message to the upcoming generation of players, advising them to manage their finances wisely.
The former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, who recently parted ways with Amakhosi after a remarkable 25-year journey, reflected on the personal financial lessons he learned late in his career – and how trusting agents may have cost him more than he realised.
“I think learning about finances is very important because, as footballers, we tend to think that we have agents,” he said. “I don’t mean to speak badly about them, but towards the end of my career, I stopped working with an agent – and that’s when I started seeing real growth in my bank account,” the ex-goalkeeper was quoted by FarPost.
Khune explained how agents often secure contracts for players, take their share, and move on to the next client.
“When I had an agent, they’d sign a three-year deal with the club, and I’d sign a two-year deal with them. They’d get their commission and disappear,” he said.
“You’re just one of many players they represent. If a club calls and needs a goalkeeper, they choose who suits their interests – not necessarily you.”
Khune’s career is nothing short of legendary. Known for his extraordinary reflexes and distribution skills, the 37-year-old rose through the ranks at Chiefs after joining from Ventersdorp in 1999.
He was the last goalkeeper to win silverware for the Soweto giants before their recent Nedbank Cup triumph, which ended a 10-year drought. Chiefs defeated Orlando Pirates 2-1 in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium earlier this month.
Despite not being part of that historic moment, Khune’s legacy remains deeply woven into the club’s history. However, he believes that his financial and career management would have looked very different had he been better informed earlier on.
“If I had known all of this when I was younger, I’d be far by now. Players always run to agents for advice, but most agents only think about their pockets,” he added.