First it was Njabulo Blom and now Siyabonga Ngezana has become the second Kaizer Chiefs youth product to make the big move from Naturena to an overseas top flight club.
Kaizer Chiefs may have had a below par season but Siyabonga Ngezana’s transfer to Romania Liga 1 powerhouse, Fotbal Club FCSB, formerly known as Steaua Bucharesti, suggests its junior policy remains sound.
Many Amakhosi fans may have been sad to see vastly talented midfielder Blom leave in January for the USA to join Major Soccer league side St Louis City. However, having long serving defender join 26-times Romania league champions, just six months later, speaks volumes of some of the good work the Kaizer Chiefs Youth Academy is doing.
The 25-year-old’s chapter outside Naturana starts at a club with a proud history in Europe. FCSB shocked Barcelona in 1986 to win the European Cup. Besides being crowned champions of Europe, Ngezana joins a Romania football giant that also won the European Super Cup in that same year.
Coming from arguably the biggest team in South Africa in terms of support base, Ngezana should be able to deal with the pressure of playing for the most supported team in Romania. FCSB enjoys 42% of that country’s football following.
More telling for the big South African defender is that the Romania powerhouse finished third on the log to qualify for Europa. He will test his qualities against some of the best players in the world as he flies the South African flag.
Understandably, Kaizer chiefs are proud of their youth product and made this known when they bade farewell to the player who faithfully served them for seven seasons.
OTHER SOCCER NEWS:No Jali for Chiefs, another player on the radar
“There is always a tinge of sadness when a player who has risen through the ranks here leaves the Club,” says Amakhosi Sporting Director, Kaizer Motaung Jr. However, Siya has had a good and substantial career at Kaizer Chiefs and feels the time is right to take up a new challenge. We appreciate his wholehearted commitment to Amakhosi and wish him well on his exciting adventure to Europe.”
Twice capped at senior national team central, the Vaal-triangle born player made a total of 123 appearances (23 in his last season) in all competitions for the Glamour Boys over seven seasons. He also represented the national under-20 and under-23 teams.