Zungu to Kaizer Chiefs: Verdict reached?
Bongani Zungu has loads of ability but there are issues with the rumoured Kaizer Chiefs midfield maestro target and ex-Bafana Bafana star.
Bongani Zungu is a skilled, 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?
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. According to transfermarkt, his stock peaked 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 returned to Sundowns. He made his Bafana debut in 2013 which feels like a long time ago.
A step backwards for Zungu at Kaizer Chiefs?
Zungu courted controversy during his short spell with Glasgow Rangers under then-manager Steven Gerrard. He was one of five players who breached 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 Kaizer Chiefs board?
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