Brian Baloyi challenges Itumeleng Khune to prove his worth

Despite Khune’s recent statement expressing his intention to extend his playing career beyond the upcoming season, Baloyi, speaking to SABC Sport, suggests Khune needs to make significant sacrifices in his life if he truly wants to continue representing the club. 

READ: Itumeleng Khune pushing for new Kaizer Chiefs contract despite retirement claims

Baloyi emphasised that Khune should either step up, lead by example and improve his performance, or consider retiring from goalkeeper duties.

"Him wanting to still play... I still want to pay, everybody still wants to play. But, to us, it's just talking. To him, I'm saying, if he wants to play, he must show it on the field," said Baloyi.

"Showing on the field is not only him playing – whether he's playing or not, he needs to be honest with himself. I don't want to talk about the weight issue, but still today, when you see him play, you can see he's carrying a little bit more weight.

"Unfortunately, for a goalkeeper to play in your 30s – I played until I was 37, and at 36, I was the fittest I had ever been in my life, I made the Confed Cup squad.

"So he needs to look at himself and say, 'I still want to play for Kaizer Chiefs,' and he needs to sacrifice a whole lot of stuff in his life, including friends – there's some friends he needs to discard and just focus on himself.

"We know he has talent, no one is questioning that, but the two things we can question is his commitment and his fitness – and that's us as the general public, it's the club, the coaches, and it's the supporters. 

"So, he needs to then...the only way he can shut us up is by performing."

PREVIOUSLY: Itumeleng Khune advised to see a psychologist