Itumeleng Khune himself is a South African icon – more than only a Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs footballer.
And you would understand if all his focus this week would be on the biggest game on the SA football calendar – the Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on Saturday (3.30pm kickoff).
But the Bafana No 1 goal-minder took time out this week to pay tribute to hip hop sensation Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP), who died at the age of just 38 on Wednesday.
“Gone too soon,” Khune posted on Twitter, accompanied by a picture of HHP with the words “RIP Hip Hop Pantsula Jabba”, with Jabba being his nickname as in Jabulani ‘Jabba’ Tsambo.
And Khune didn’t stop there with remembering heroes of this country.
Gone too soon 💔💔 pic.twitter.com/TNSa9HBbJN
— IIKHUNE3216 (@IIKHUNE_32_16) October 24, 2018
Just on Thursday afternoon, the 31-year-old called on the Premier Soccer League to name their Goalkeeper of the Year award after Senzo Meyiwa.
Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper and captain Meyiwa was gunned down at the home of his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo on October 26, 2014, so Friday will mark four years since his passing.
“#TBT Miss you a lot bro #SowetoDerby #Brothers4life #GodIsGreat I wish @OfficialPSL can name #GoalkeeperOfTheSeason in your Name,” Khune said in dedicating his Throwback Thursday post to his former Bafana teammate and Orlando Pirates counterpart, who was 30 at the time of his death.
#TBT Miss you a lot bro 💔 #SowetoDerby #Brothers4life #GodIsGreat🙏🏻 I wish @OfficialPSL can name #GoalkeeperOfTheSeason in your Name 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/T21yYnM0AT
— IIKHUNE3216 (@IIKHUNE_32_16) October 25, 2018
@ashfakmohamed