Zungu Bafana Bafana future uncertain

Bongani Zungu of South Africa during the 2021 Afcon Qualifier match between Sao Tome and South Africa at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth on the 16 November 2020 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Hugo Broos explains stance on Bongani Zungu Bafana Bafana selection

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has given an explanation on where Bongani Zungu stands in the national team fold. 

Zungu Bafana Bafana future uncertain

Bongani Zungu of South Africa during the 2021 Afcon Qualifier match between Sao Tome and South Africa at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth on the 16 November 2020 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has given an explanation on where Bongani Zungu stands in the national team fold. 

READ | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS MIDFIELDER ESCAPES STABBING THREATS FROM WOMAN

Zungu hasn’t played for Bafana Bafana since May of last year and Broos has since discussed his omission from the current squad. 

Bafana set for two friendlies

Broos named his latest Bafana Bafana preliminary squad of 29 yesterday, for the March internationals against Guinea and France in Europe on the 25th and 29th of this month respectively. Having had to answer for many of the new faces that the has named in his squad, the same type of explanations were required by the members of the media with regards to Zungu. 

READ | HUGO BROOS EXPLAINS NEW FACES IN BAFANA BAFANA SQUAD

Zungu has had an indifferent season at Amiens so far this campaign, with the player initially starting the season late. Upon his late arrival into pre-season camp the 29-year-old had to be reintegrated into the first team again and took the long route through the club’s reserve side. Eventually Zungu was given the go ahead to compete for the club in French Ligue 2 competition where he has even had a change of position of late, having been slotted in as an auxiliary centre back recently. Broos then answered the question on a possible return to the national team fold for Zungu. 

Broos explains Zungu selection stance

“You know when you see his (Zungu) career until now and what happened over the last few years, yes I will see for the next few months but I don’t think for the moment it’s the right time to take him,” Broos said on Radio 2000 in conversation with Andile Ncube, as per iDiskiTimes.

READ | ORLANDO PIRATES’ OLISA NDAH ATTRACTS ‘VERY SERIOUS’ INTEREST FROM SWEDISH CLUB

Broos then went on to hint that, he is looking at players who are playing at higher level and that are constant fixtures in their club sides. 

Keeping tabs of overseas players

“Yes we follow [the players abroad], in modern times you can do it, we have a site on our computer to follow the games, we follow them very closely, every week playing games, I think for them it’s very important they play there,” If I compare where they play compared to the South African competition, it’s still a level higher but we need… the countries in the West has an advantage on us, all their players are in Europe in better competitions.The players become better when they playing there, it’s important that they guys like Lakay and Tau are playing in their team, Hlongwane also – they can improve themselves too, something we need, players who are used to playing regularly against tough opponents.” concluded Broos.

READ | “NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT PERCY TAU”-FORMER AL AHLY COACH

Zungu didn’t exactly cover himself with much glory after his recent red card that saw him turn into a villain for his club. That would have not gone down too well with Broos either who would’ve surely not been impressed by his behaviour.