Khune to savour the moment

Facing Manchester United tomorrow will represent another major milestone in Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune's career.

Khune, who turned 21 only last month, has had a meteoric rise to stardom in recent months.

He became the Amakhosi's first-choice goalkeeper following Rowen Fernandez's move to German Bundesliga outfit Arminia Bielefeld, was voted the Premier Soccer League Player of the Season as well as Goalkeeper of the Season at the end of the 2007-08 campaign and in June made the Bafana Bafana No 1 jersey his own by displacing Fernandez in his debut season.

But he now faces his biggest test yet when he comes up against what Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral describes "as the best team in the world", European and English Premiership champions United, in the Vodacom Challenge opener at Newlands in Cape Town at 3.30pm on Saturday.

It is all happening fast for Khune, who is determined to shine against world-class players such as Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher and Rio Ferdinand, to name but a few in the United squad due to arrive in Cape Town on Friday.

"This is what dreams are made of. As a youngster I dreamed of playing against the best players in the world, and now I will be doing just that when we meet Manchester United. It is going to be a great experience for all of us," a confident Khune said on Thursday at Chiefs' final training session ahead of their departure for Cape Town.

Khune has one aim: not to concede a goal. However, he admits that will be much easier said that done.

"I know I will have a busy afternoon, but I aim to enjoy the 90 minutes.

"Few players get the opportunity to play against the top side in the world. I want to savour the moment."

For the young custodian it could be the first of two outings against United on successive weekends. Amakhosi tackle arch-rivals Orlando Pirates at the EPRU Stadium in Port Elizabeth next Thursday.

The winners of that derby qualify for the final against the European champions at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane next Saturday..

Bucs get their chance to meet Sir Alex Ferguson's charges at King's Park in Durban on Tuesday night.

"We all want to play United twice, so we know the Pirates match is going to be a crunch game for both (South African) teams," Khune said.

New signings Jose Torrealba and Valery Nahayo, the Burundi skipper and central defender who joined the Naturena club from relegated Jomo Cosmos, will make their Chiefs debut against United.

"There is a big difference in tactics and technique compared to Cosmos," Nahayo said.

"I am delighted that I joined Chiefs. It has taken me a little while to adapt to the new style of play, but I have now settled and I am determined to go out and try to make the most of my chance against United." - Sapa

Nahayo added that he would be happy to mark English superstar Rooney. "It will be fantastic to pit our skills against some of the best players in the world. It will be a big boost for my career," he stated.

Bafana midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala expressed the belief that a team effort would be needed to subdue United. "We must play as a unit and not be overawed by the occasion. We are not under pressure from the coach, and we must go out and enjoy the game."

Ertugral was psyched up on Thursday, although he admitted that Chiefs could not match the English club's two biggest strengths, precision and organisation.

"We will give United a run for their money in the skills department. South African soccer has bags of skills, but it is in organisation and precision that we fall down badly," he asserted. "Playing against the best in the world is a huge motivating factor. We will try and close down space, but on a big pitch (like Newlands) that is easier said than done."

The Chiefs coach is happy to learn from this experience. "United will show up our limitations. That will allow my technical team to fix our shortcomings before we play Pirates and help us get ready for the start of the Absa Premiership season."

Chiefs upset United in the 2006 Vodacom Challenge final when they prevailed in a penalty shootout, but Ertugral knows this time it will be a different ball game.

"United brought their third team in 2006. This time they have brought their top players. Most of their world stars are here, so we are in for a big learning curve." - Sapa