Bongani Zungu has all the ability in the world but there are huge issues with the rumoured Kaizer Chiefs midfield maestro target and former Bafana Bafana star.
Zungu is a highly skilled yet flawed operator
Bongani Zungu did what any sane, ambitious and rational young footballer would do early in his career. He travelled at his peak to maximise his earning potential and experience different countries and cultures in the process. That came to the detriment of his Bafana career, even though that’s not his fault. His tally of 29 caps for South Africa should be far, far greater. Are South African technical staff not doing enough to include overseas-based players in their squads? Undoubtedly gifted, Zungu should have played more of a part for his country. Is that partially down to him?
Ben10’s career in a nutshell
Bongani Zungu, nicknamed Ben10, has 29 Bafana Bafana caps and experience across Europe. He’s strutted his stuff in the top tiers of Scotland, France and Portugal with Glasgow Rangers, Amiens and Vitoria Guimaraes. His stock peaked, according to transfermarkt, in January 2018 when he was valued at €3.5m (R67 million). However, it’s been a steady decline since. Zungu departed for Europe in 2026 and jumped around clubs until 2022 when he made a return to Sundowns. He made his Bafana debut in 2013 which feels like an awfully long time ago now.
Zungu presents more problems than solutions for Kaizer Chiefs in 2024
Zungu courted controversy during his short spell with Glasgow Rangers under then-manager Steven Gerrard. He was one of five players to breach coronavirus lockdown rules. Zungu was duly dropped and heavily fined. More recently, in October 2023, Zungu was shown red for an awful tackle against TS Galaxy while still a Sundowns player. Off the pitch, Ben10 has never been able to shake a reported ‘Party Boy’ image. Every time we thought Zungu had grown up and was ready to show us his undoubted ability, he mildly disappointed us.
At 32, he’s also not getting any younger and his motivation at this stage of his career would have to be a mild concern. Would the signing of Zungu be sending out a dangerous message to the likes of 22-year-old Samkelo Zwane?
Would you sign Zungu if you were on the Chiefs board?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or emailing info@thesouthafrican.com. You can also send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for your social fix.
