Posted in News on Jul 01, 2008.
The 20-year-old crowned a fantastic debut 2007/2008 season in the Absa Premiership by winning the Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and the Player of the Month awards for August, November and March.
Other awards Khune took home were the Website Player of the Year and the Amakhosi Magazine Readers Choice trophies.
Besides from becoming Amakhosi’s number one keeper, Khune also made Bafana’s number one jersey his own, relegating former Chiefs goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez to the bench.
Khune has also won the Absa Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season and the Players’ Player of the Season awards.
A modest Khune told the audience after having won Chiefs' Player of the Year award: “Thanks to my goalkeeper coach Rainer Dinkelacker as well as my teammates, because without you I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this.”
Chiefs legend Thabo Mooki, who was not offered a new contract, was given the Chairman’s Special Award by Amakhosi chairman and managing director Kaizer Motaung for his outstanding contribution to the club.
“Thabo is the only player who made his debut on April 1 (1994),” Motaung joked.
“This is a big honour,” Mooki reacted after receiving the Chairman’s Special Award, adding “I'm not sure what will happen with me. I would like to stay involved with Chiefs and I will discuss with Mr Motaung in what way this may happen.” The 33-year-old Mooki also won the Best Dressed trophy.
Other Chiefs major awards winners were Mabhuti Khenyeza (Goal of the Year, Top Goal Scorer and Player of the Month for April) and Jimmy Tau (Fair Play and Player of the Month for February). The rest of the Player of the Month awards were won by Jonathan Quartey (September), Onismor Bhasera (October), Siphiwe Tshabalala (December) and David Mathebula (May).
Amakhosi’s marketing director Jessica Motaung told the audience that, despite not having had a great season from a purely soccer point of view, Chiefs still command “38% of the football support base in South Africa. The Amakhosi magazine is the 12th most read magazine in the country. We also relaunched the Amakhosi Supporters Club and established the KCweb TV of which we are very proud.
"Thanks must go to the Amakhosi Faithful, the Kaizer Chiefs Branch network and the entire Kaizer Chiefs family for their continued support through the ups and downs of the team and the brand during this season.”