FCSB defender Siyabonga Ngezana has earned a spot in the Bafana squad, with South Africa set to play friendlies against Andorra on March 21 and Algeria on March 26. Coach Broos sees the 26-year-old Ngezana as a potential successor to 32-year-old Siyanda Xulu. Ngezana’s impressive form in the Romanian SuperLiga has caught Broos’ attention, prompting his inclusion in the squad.
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Broos revealed that Ngezana was considered for the AFCON squad previously but was ultimately not selected due to his absence from the team. However, his consistent performance in Romania has prompted reconsideration for future matches. The surprise addition to the squad is Khanyisa Mayo, who Broos had previously criticized for not showing enough improvement. However, due to injuries to other strikers, Mayo now has the opportunity to prove himself.
Ngezana credits Elias Charalambous, FCSB’s head coach, for helping him settle in Bucharest. Charalambous, who has South African roots, made Ngezana feel at home by sharing stories and speaking Xhosa. Meanwhile, Ngezana’s former club, Kaizer Chiefs, faces a tight schedule with upcoming fixtures against Cape Town City, Stellenbosch, and Chippa.
Regarding Kaizer Chiefs, reports suggest midfielder George Matlou has struggled since joining the team from Swallows. Happy Mashiane is reportedly leaving due to a lack of playing time, while Colombian striker Jasond Gonzalez is set to return to his former club in Bolivia after failing to score for Kaizer Chiefs during his loan spell. On the other hand, 16-year-old Neo Bohloko is performing well for the DDC side.