Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Siyabonga Ngezana has expressed his excitement over winning his first-ever league title with FC Steaua Bucuresti.
Ngezana, who made a surprising move from Amakhosi to the Romanian top flight at the start of the season, has become a key player for Steaua, contributing significantly to their success.
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After a period of adjustment, Ngezana found his stride and helped Steaua end a nine-year title drought, making 31 appearances across all competitions and scoring one goal.
Despite his joy at this achievement, he acknowledged the disappointment of leaving Chiefs without securing any silverware, a reminder that not all career paths unfold as expected.
"I'm very, very excited with my first title, yeah it is my first title ever. I understand sometimes (things) don't always go according to plan," Ngezana told Sports Night Amplified with Andile.
"Obviously, first of all, the beginning is not always easy coming to a foreign land, with the language and culture. So, I needed to adapt with the environment and weather actually.
"Get familiar with the place, players... so it wasn't easy. So it was as they say not a walk in the park. I needed to work hard to earn my place," he further stated.
The transition to a new country presented its challenges, including adapting to the language, culture, and climate.
"The reason why they brought me was because of they saw my strength as a player and wanted someone there, centrally because they look at the heart, speed, those are the things they look and noted I can improve. So, they saw me as a central defender," Ngezana said.
Ngezana, who is versatile in defence, has primarily been utilized as a central defender at Steaua, a role that capitalizes on his strengths.
"To be honest, it was nice watching the boys play until the semis, it was very nice to be South African because they knew this side that the Afcon is playing. The disappointing thing is I couldn't make the final squad. That's the only disappointment with me but other than that I was very proud of the boys.
"Yeah, I want to cement my position it's very important, more especially when you play in Europe because we have a lot of international players. So, it's very important for me to play for my country," Ngezana said.
With Steaua's league victory, the team has qualified for the UEFA Champions League next season, although they must first navigate through a play-off round to reach the group stages.
Ngezana's journey from Chiefs to becoming a league champion with FC Steaua Bucuresti is a testament to his resilience and adaptability. His experiences in Romania have not only contributed to his personal growth but have also set the stage for his aspirations on the international front with Bafana Bafana.
As Steaua prepares for the challenges of the Champions League, Ngezana's story serves as an inspiration for South African players aiming to make their mark abroad.
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