Zungu

Rangers’ Swiss striker Cedric Itten celebrates with Ranger’s South African midfielder Bongani Zungu (R) after scoring their fifth goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32, 2nd leg football match between Rangers and Royal Antwerp at the Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow on February 25, 2021. – Rangers won the game 5-2. (Photo by RUSSELL CHEYNE / POOL / AFP)

Why Rangers changed their minds on Zungu release

Molefi Ntseki has seen red over Glasgow Rangers decision not to release Bongani Zungu which was reportedly informed by advice from the British government.

Zungu

Rangers’ Swiss striker Cedric Itten celebrates with Ranger’s South African midfielder Bongani Zungu (R) after scoring their fifth goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32, 2nd leg football match between Rangers and Royal Antwerp at the Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow on February 25, 2021. – Rangers won the game 5-2. (Photo by RUSSELL CHEYNE / POOL / AFP)

Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki has shed light on why Bongani Zungu was not allowed to join up with the squad.

Ntseki was forced to do without the Glasgow Rangers midfielder in Bafana Bafana’s Afcon qualifier against Ghana and will not have him available for the trip to Khartoum to face Sudan.

Rangers change their minds on Zungu

Rangers had initially agreed to release Zungu but changed their minds after receiving a new ‘red-list’ or restricted travel countries which included the UAE and Ethiopia.

Bongani Zungu
Bongani Zungu has been cleared to link up with Bafana Bafana for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Sudan.

Ntseki has decried the treatment that African countries have received during the international window, slamming the lack of clarity and the constant changes in stance from European clubs.

The Bafana Bafana coach said: “We should all agree that nobody from South Africa or Africa brought Covid-19. It is very unfair for us to be punished by saying: ‘You cannot be released to go to South Africa because it is a hot spot’. I think all over the world, it’s a hot spot

“For them not to release our players it’s a very big disappointment for us.

“I think even in South America, they were made aware that there were players that weren’t going to be released for the World Cup qualifiers and they suspended their games.”

Last November, Zungu was on the scoresheet as Bafana Bafana beat  São Tomé and Príncipe 2-0 but since then the midfielder has blotted his copybook at Rangers with breaches of COVID-19 protocols and he felt he was unable to push his club to release him for international duty in a tight international window.

“In our first press conference when we reported for camp we said that negotiations are still going on, but on Wednesday we got an email from his club to say they are no longer releasing him, whether coming to South Africa or going to Sudan,” Ntseki told the media.

“Then I spoke to him (Zungu) and he explained to me that, ‘It is a situation that will work against me if ever I force to come to Sudan.’

“So, again we saw a new list of countries that are referred to as red zones. In this case we have both Dubai and Ethiopia which has been declared red zones, so for our players to come and join us in Sudan, they would have to come via Dubai or Ethiopia, so Africa is a red zone.

“We are the only ones in South Africa that managed to play against Ghana because the two teams are not red zones,” Ntseki explained.

Bafana Bafana will complete their Cameroon 2021 Afcon qualifying campaign with their match against Sudan on Sunday 28 March.

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