Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune is hoping to avoid the kind of mistakes David de Gea and Kasper Schmeichel made after returning from an extended break.

The two Premier League goalkeepers looked unconvincing after returning from the COVID-19-enforced break, but Khune reckons he can shake off the cobwebs quickly.

South African football has been on hiatus since March, but will return on August 8 with the Nedbank Cup, followed shortly by the resumption of the Premiership.

"I realise that the break, due to this Covid-19 pandemic, affected a lot of keepers, including Manchester United's David de Gea and Leicester City's Kasper Schmeichel," Khune told the Amakhosi website.

"They didn't seem to have the same confidence as before the break.

"There was clearly a lot of rustiness. Luckily, we have had a bit more time to prepare before the league restarts.

"We have also discussed various aspects on our 'Keeper Corner', which is us goalies communicating with our goalkeeper coach Lee Baxter, and it's basically about learning from the past to go forward.

"Going back into the field will all be about mental strength. We just need to be ready come August 11."

"It's important for us to continue where we left off," he continued. "Luckily, we have new technology, like the Zoom mobile app, via which we could have video communication.

"This helped the coaches to guide us on exercises to keep fit. It was a frustrating time, as we missed being on the field. We just had to hang in there.

"We are happy that we will soon be able to do what we all love again – playing football."

- TEAMtalk media