13 November 2017 – Bafana Bafana number one goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has reflected on the past week when he risked aggravating his injury to play with a mask in the crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against Senegal on Friday, 10 November at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

After sustaining a facial injury during the Telkom match against Chippa United on Sunday, a day before reporting for camp, Khune said despite the setback he was determined to defy the odds and do everything for his country.

The medical team put Khune through an intensive rehabilitation process during the week in camp and the inspirational goalkeeper responded well and was named captain on the day.

“Having playing with the mask was a risk I had to take because I always put my country first and I enjoy what I do and for me it was a simple decision to make though it was a frustrating week ahead of the match.

“But on the day of the match it is when I made the biggest call because I really wanted  the country to qualify for Russia though the result didn’t go the way we all wanted,” said Khune.

“I am happy I played and took the risk, this is a calling from God that I should help the nation. I had to answer the call of South Africans and had to play in a mask though some people made a fun out of it,” he laughed.

Here what Khune had to say here: