Zwane recalls best Chiefs defender doubts: They said I had a problem

AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane has revealed he did not get it easy at Kaizer Chiefs when he decided to promote Siyabonga Ngezana to the senior team.

The duo had worked together in the youth team before Mangethe decided to give him a chance with the senior team when he was promoted. However, critics felt the tactician was taking things too first, and that the versatile defender would end up struggling.

Nevertheless, Ngezana has been one of the country’s top defenders since his move abroad. In the 2023/24 season, Romanian heavyweights FCSB came for his services, and the now 28-year-old helped them end their nine-year league drought.

Ngezana is now among the players almost guaranteed a place in Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana team that will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States.

That, probably, couldn’t have been the case if Zwane had heeded the opinion of doubters.

How Zwane stood his ground in Ngezana’s development

“When I was on his case, people said I had a problem with Siya, that I wanted to destroy Siya. [People said he was one of] my favourites… but that time, Siya was the best defender at Kaizer Chiefs,” he said as quoted by iDiski Times.

“Nobody understood why I said that; he could deal with 1v1s. He was very strong in the air, when we had the ball he could play, pace as well, quick recoveries. People said otherwise but he was our best defender.

“But it’s fine, I always say God does things in a mysterious way. I was bashed so much for that. I said it’s okay, no problem, look at Siya today, playing in UEFA competitions.

“It’s good for South Africa and trust me, he will be in the World Cup squad because he worked hard for it. And he’s doing well, look at all these players that come from DDC level, the reserve team.

“We need to commend the PSL and Multichoice for this program, it’s been life-changing and producing so many players. It has also reduced the average [age] in the national team. Look at the squad that just qualified, many of them stand a good chance of even going to the next FIFA World Cup,” Zwane concluded.