Royal AM boss on failing to capture ex-Pirates star

Royal AM boss John Maduka has finally opened up on failing to capture ex-Orlando Pirates midfielder Nkanyiso Zungu due to a transfer ban.

Thwihli Thwahla are banned by FIFA from signing new players and this comes after the saga involving Kaizer Chiefs striker Samir Nurkovic.

ALSO READ I Pirates reject Zungu advised to consider playing in lower tier

Following this ban, Royal AM could not tie down ex-Pirates midfielder Zungu who previously trained with the Durban-based DStv Premiership club.

Are you a Kaizer Chiefs fan? Click to read the latest Amakhosi news

ROYAL AM BOSS ON FAILING TO CAPTURE EX-PIRATES STAR

The former Bloemfontein Celtic manager, Maduka shared his pain as he wanted to capture the ex-Pirates player.

ALSO READ I Sundowns reignite interest on highly-prized Chiefs target?

While The South African reported that Zungu has been turned down by AmaZulu after leaving Royal AM, it seems he will continue to search for a club.

According to a local football publication, the dreadlocked Zungu played in a friendly match for AmaZulu against Royal AM during the recent FIFA international break.

ALSO READ I Impressed Pirates legend warns media on ‘hyping’ starlet

“Yes, he left and I think he went to AmaZulu and he played against us in a friendly match,” Maduka told iDiski Times.

“Of course, he did speak to us knowing about our situation and it was not going to be fair of us to try and hold on to him because we are in a very tricky situation.

“So we don’t want to stress the player that has done very well with us and he is one of the players that we were going to have in our books because he did so well when he was with us.”

ALSO READ I Ntseki reveals ambition to lure ‘R15m’ Stellies star to Chiefs

ROYAL AM’S MADUKA PRAISES EX-PIRATES PLAYER’S HUNGER

Despite Zungu’s widely reported off-the-field attitude, Maduka praised the former Stellenbosch midfielder’s hunger.

ALSO READ I Orlando Pirates fixture this weekend

The Malawi legend said the former Richards Bay star who had to be shown the exit door owing to behavioural issues, is now looking to play and make amends.

 “Apart from that, the attitude at training, the work rate at training, he was something else,” added Maduka.

ALSO READ I Maart on why Kaizer Chiefs star is a game-changer

“You can see he wants to play football. So when he was with us, he was a boy who wanted to play football but it is unfortunate that we couldn’t have him.”

As things stand, Zungu is currently a free agent after he was let go by Pirates towards the end of the previous term.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES BY PHUMZILE NGCATSHE