South African football icon Itumeleng Khune has officially thrown his weight behind the Major Elite Soccer Strikers Academy (MESSA), a specialized training initiative launched by former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates forward Lehlohonolo Majoro. The endorsement comes at a critical time for the local game, as the nation continues to grapple with a persistent lack of clinical finishing in front of goal.
The “MESSA” Mission
Launched by Majoro to bridge the technical gap for modern forwards, MESSA focuses on the “art of scoring.” Khune, who shared a locker room with Majoro at both club level and with Bafana Bafana, believes that specialized striker coaches are the missing link in South African football.
“I support what Lehlohonolo Majoro is doing. We need top strikers like Collins Mbesuma to come out and show the current generation how it’s done,” Khune told KickOff. “It’s been a cry for us as a nation. Even in the Betway Premiership, we are not converting. Our top scorer has 12 goals with only eight games to go. Teams really need to invest in striker coaches.”
Mentorship in Action
The academy’s impact is already being felt within the professional ranks. Kaizer Chiefs’ rising star Mduduzi Shabalala has been spotted putting in extra work at MESSA. The 21-year-old was recently seen undergoing intensive finishing drills under Majoro’s direct instruction—a move Khune hopes more young professionals will emulate to sharpen their instincts.
A Proven Partnership
Khune and Majoro’s collaboration transcends this endorsement; the duo were instrumental in Kaizer Chiefs’ trophy-laden era in the early 2010s and represented South Africa together during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. By supporting Majoro’s transition from elite player to elite specialist coach, Khune is advocating for a shift in how local clubs approach technical development.
As the league enters its final stretch, the call for better conversion rates has never been louder. For Khune, the solution lies in specialized academies like MESSA that tap into the wisdom of the country’s most legendary goal-scorers.
