Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena says Bongani Zungu is falling in love with the game again and it won’t be too long before he’s back to his usual standards.
Zungu, 30, rejoined Sundowns exactly one year ago after six seasons in Europe where he turned out for Vitória Guimarães, Amiens and a loan stint at Scottish giants Rangers.
His return was met with adulation from the supporters and one could even say fear from their domestic rivals as the seasoned South Africa international represents one of the nation’s most high-profile talents but it’s not been the homecoming many expected.
He made just five starts last season in 21 games across all competitions and appeared to be struggling with his fitness and weight which Mokwena duly noted at one point saying he’s not progressed enough to play a starring role in their squad.
But Mokwena has hinted that the Zungu, who starred for club and country in the past, is coming closer and he’s worked around the clock to return to the form that made him a household name in South African football.
“He’s getting there, he’s getting there, he’s understanding… with Bongz, he’s struggled and look back, not just here now, Bongz had a stint at Amiens and then was sent on loan to Rangers, played a bit and had a little off-field issue and all these things,” Mokwena said.
“He said to me the other day, and this is the starting point, ‘I’m falling in love with the game again’, it’s a big statement and you have to understand, imagine if you’re a player like Bongani Zungu with all the hardships you’ve gone through.
“The first thing you do is to protect your heart from the game because it’s hurt you so much, and now the process is to get Bongani Zungu to fall in love with the game again, to make the sacrifices for football again.
“To make football feel like number one again, that’s a process, but he’s getting there, he really is – he’s looking trimmer, lost a lot of weight and last season when I said he needs to lose weight and you guys were also upset with the weight of Zungu.
“You now also have to publically congratulate him for working so hard, especially because he’s shredded three of four kilos and that’s very difficult… It’s a process but I’m very proud of him and very proud of the players, we have to manage these players, they are human beings, who are very delicate.
“Same to me, I have fears, I have ambitions and I come here and sit here, all of you are looking at me giving the right answers, and sometimes I give the wrong ones and you will sit here and say what is this guy talking about.
“But I’m human, you forget that, it’s the same for my players, they are human, they have fears, feelings, emotions, they have families, they have ambitions – they’ve got failures, you know what I mean? That’s for everybody, you have to manage it.”
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Zungu has won three league titles with Masandawana, the Telkom Knockout at the SPL title over the course of his career.
