There are departures that shock the world, there are departures that sting deep into the hearts of the fans. And then there are departures that when you look closely enough, they have been written on the wall for quite some time.
Bongani Zungu’s exit from AmaZulu FC appears to be the latter, firmly in that final category and with just two months remaining on his current contract, the experienced midfielder finds himself in an increasingly uncertain position. While no official announcement has been made, indications from within the club suggest that AmaZulu are already planning ahead for a future without Zungu.
(Picture/Bongani Zungu/ Amazulu- Relebogile Mofokeng/ Pirates)
A well traversed player in Bongani Zungu, who carries with him the kind of footballing pedigree that commands instant respect. A CAF champions league winner, a two times PSL winner, and to top it off. A Scottish Premiership winner with Rangers.
At just 33 years of age, Zungu has graced some of the most demanding stages the game has to offer. Plying his trade out out in Portugal, Scotland and France remains evident to the quality he possesses, but football as always moves quickly. And with all that experience, Bongani Zungu has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter under the tutelage of Arthur Zwane.
The midfield maestro who is affectionately known as Ben 10 from the early days of his career out at Amatuks has managed only five starts across all competitions, supplemented by six appearances off the bench. For a midfielder of his caliber and experience, those are not the statistics of a man who is valued nor performing. They are the statistics of a man who is peripheral present in name, but absent in influence. Bongani “Ben 10” Zungu’s omission from the squad for the KwaZulu-Natal derby against Richards Bay FC was a true underlying gravity of his situation out in Durban. Derby matches are not occasions where coaches leave their best players at home out of sentiment or rotation. They are occasions that demand every available weapon. The fact that Zungu was not considered one of those weapons speaks volumes
Where to from here ??
As a seasoned player, Zungu knows that if any club let you go into your last six months without a contract. Well the message is clear, its time to find a new home.
What happens next for one of South African football’s most recognizable midfielders remains one of the more compelling subplots of the current season. Does he find a new home domestically? Does an opportunity abroad reignite the fire? Or does this chapter in Durban close quietly, without the fanfare his talent perhaps deserved?
Those questions remain unanswered for now. But one thing is becoming increasingly, undeniably clear. Bongani Zungu’s time at AmaZulu FC is drawing to a close. And when the final whistle blows on his Durban chapter, it will mark the end of a stint that promised considerably more than it ultimately delivered.
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