I would be homeless without soccer, says Khune

Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has explained some of the sacrifices his family had to make growing up so he could get to where he is today.

The 29-year-old, who is Bafana Bafana's undisputed number one and is widely regarded as one of the nation's most talented performers, revealed that his family had to give up groceries so he could get football boots.

However, the sacrifices paid off as Khune has made over 250 starts for the Glamour Boys and has collected more than 80 caps for the national team as well.

As such, Khune is grateful for what his family did for him while he was a young boy growing up around the dusty streets of Ventersdorp.

"If I was not playing soccer, I would have probably become a gangster or a hobo. At some point at home, we had to take a risk where we went for one month without groceries, because my dad had to buy me soccer boots," Khune is quoted to have told Move.

The player has since given back to the community from where he was raised. In 2014, he made a massive donation of R150 000 to an old age home in his hometown as well as R350 000 to Letshelemane Primary School.

Khune, who is now one of the Premier Soccer League's (PSL) highest earners, will along with his team-mates be looking to improve on their current form when they face Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versveld Stadium.

Kick off is at 15:30 on Saturday.