Itumeleng Khune’s plea to Kaizer Chiefs players

Khune says the Soweto giants must now end the unwanted record of not having won any major silverware since 2015 when he was still part of the team under then coach Stuart Baxter.

Speaking ahead of the final against arch-rivals Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday at 3pm, Khune feels the current crop owe it to Motaung for the legacy he has built at Chiefs.

"Let's hope they will bring their A-plus game come weekend so that they win it for the old man. Eish, Doctor Motaung deserves something, like having to witness your team not lifting a trophy in nine and a half years, it's not nice and you've invested so much in the players, in infrastructure, I think Doctor Motaung deserves to be given that trophy,” Khune said.

“He's aging, and he's invested so much in that team. So, I think the players who are there now must think of writing their names in the history books."

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Khune led the Baxter era with aplomb as Amakhosi clinched back-to-back league titles between 2012 and 2015, including the MTN8 as well as the Nedbank Cup.

The former shot stopper says Chiefs can’t live in the past.

"I was busy posting on my WhatsApp status, the last time we lifted the Nedbank Cup final. It was me who lifted it but the whole team collectively fought hard to get to the final and win it,” he added.

“That's what I wish for the current crop of players to say, you know what? We are sick and tired of hearing about the 2013/14 team that lifted the trophy; now it's our turn.

“It's the same as when you get to Bafana, we'll always be reminded about the 1996 squad that won AFCON, and we've had so many opportunities to erase that, unfortunately, things didn't work out.

“So, I think the players must just believe in themselves, believe in their ability, that, guys, we did it from the last 32, last 16, last 8, now we went through Sundowns in the last four and now this is the last hurdle and it might not come back again.

“For them to be in the final, they must count themselves as blessed and go out there and lift this trophy. Not only for the chairman, but for the fans that have been there through thick and thin, for themselves and for their families. That's all they need to do."