Amakhosi goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has thanked his teammates and club management for helping him overcome the disappointment of conceding a goal late this past Saturday during Chiefs’ 1-1 draw in the Soweto derby against arch rivals Orlando Pirates.

Khune insists that he is now focused on Chiefs next league fixture which is against Vasco Da Gama on Tuesday evening in Cape Town, “for the sake of the team it is important for me to put the derby behind me and look ahead. Right now the only thing on my mind is the game against Vasco.

Thanks to the team and management for helping get me back on my feet in the aftermath of the game. I have had time to reflect on the game and it is behind me and I am looking forward to playing against Vasco, obviously there are lessons I will take from the Pirates game forward with me.”

Of the lessons learned in the Soweto derby Khune said, “the most important thing for me going forward is to ensure that I do not concede goals late in games.”

Looking ahead Chiefs have eight games left this season and according to Khune winning all of their remaining matches is not beyond them as he explained, “during the 1998-1999 season Chiefs recorded their best run in the PSL winning seven league games in a row.

We are in the position to better that, we have a great squad of players and a strong one too, if you have the will than you can do it. I know this team has the will and the strength to finish the season strongly, we are very much in the title race and we want to finish on top.”

Khune has also lauded the fans for their support and has appealed to them to continue attending matches in large numbers, “we as a team are very fortunate because we get the technical support we need from the team and the fans are always behind us.

We entering a crucial stage of the league and we need the fans to push us on, with such great support all that is needed is for us to put together a run of wins which will help see us through.”