Johannesburg - Kaizer Chiefs chairperson Kaizer Motaung has refuted claims made in a local newspaper that he questioned whether Bafana Bafana and Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune was injured during the recent African Nations Championship.
According to the Football411.com website, national captain Khune sat out South Africa's final group game of the competition against Nigeria due to injury, a match in which a draw would have been enough to see them qualify for the next round.
However, Khune's deputy Moneeb Josephs had a match to forget as his errors helped Nigeria to a 3-1 victory, ending Bafana Bafana's run in the tournament.
In the past weekend's edition, the Sunday Times carried an article which claimed that Motaung believed that Khune was fit to take part in the match against the Super Eagles, a statement which if true would further harm the tenuous position held by national coach Gordon Igesund.
"Kaizer Motaung put what could be the final nail in Gordon Igesund's coffin this week when he disputed the beleaguered Bafana Bafana coach's claims that goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was injured ahead of the infamous African Nations Championship (Chan) match against Nigeria in January," the newspaper article read.
However, Motaung has denied that had said Khune was fit during CHAN, rather stating that he was fit to take part in Chiefs league match against Sundowns which followed out on the heels of Bafana's exit.
"The journalist called me to ask about Khune' injury during Chan. I told him that all what I know is that Khune was declared fit to play for Chiefs upon his return to the Club after Chan," Motaung told the club's official website.
"I refused to comment about what happened at Bafana Bafana as I am not involved in the player's issues at that level. I do not like to be drawn in this saga."
According to the Football411.com website, national captain Khune sat out South Africa's final group game of the competition against Nigeria due to injury, a match in which a draw would have been enough to see them qualify for the next round.
However, Khune's deputy Moneeb Josephs had a match to forget as his errors helped Nigeria to a 3-1 victory, ending Bafana Bafana's run in the tournament.
In the past weekend's edition, the Sunday Times carried an article which claimed that Motaung believed that Khune was fit to take part in the match against the Super Eagles, a statement which if true would further harm the tenuous position held by national coach Gordon Igesund.
"Kaizer Motaung put what could be the final nail in Gordon Igesund's coffin this week when he disputed the beleaguered Bafana Bafana coach's claims that goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was injured ahead of the infamous African Nations Championship (Chan) match against Nigeria in January," the newspaper article read.
However, Motaung has denied that had said Khune was fit during CHAN, rather stating that he was fit to take part in Chiefs league match against Sundowns which followed out on the heels of Bafana's exit.
"The journalist called me to ask about Khune' injury during Chan. I told him that all what I know is that Khune was declared fit to play for Chiefs upon his return to the Club after Chan," Motaung told the club's official website.
"I refused to comment about what happened at Bafana Bafana as I am not involved in the player's issues at that level. I do not like to be drawn in this saga."