South Africa’s Bongani Zungu Finds New Life in French Football, Puts Aside Controversies to Focus on Future

• Bongani Zungu has found new form in France as he hopes to resurrect his once-promising football career
• South Africa's Zungu has gone from playing in the midfield to a new role, playing as a central defender
• The player's promising career was sadly derailed due to controversies and struggles with his weight

One of South Africa’s most exciting midfielders, Bongani Zungu, has found a fresh new role at the French side, Amiens SC.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns player is well renowned for being a playmaker in the middle of the park but was used as a central defender during Amien’s last game against Nîmes. Amiens SC currently plays in French Ligue 2.

As The South African reported, Zungu excelled in the role and it could be the start of a resurgence of his career.

Bongani Zungu went from Mamelodi Sundowns to Scottish champion

Big things were always expected from Bongani Zungu. The player helped guide Masandawana to the 2015/16 Premier Soccer League title, before making a move to Portugal, where he signed for Vitória de Guimarães. After a season in Portugal, Zungu was signed by the French side, Amiens SC. In 2020, Zungu joined Steven Gerrard’s Rangers on loan, with the Scottish club having the option to buy the player. While Rangers chose not to buy the player, he did feature in the squad that went on to be crowned Scottish Champions.

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Controversies derailed Bongani Zungu’s promising career

While at Rangers, Zungu made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The player was admired by Rangers manager, Steven Gerrard, but sadly lost the manager’s faith with his actions. The South African was among five Rangers players who were found to have breached Covid19 lockdown regulations in the United Kingdom, City Press reported.

The players for fined by Scottish police for attending an illegal gathering and was handed a six-match ban by the club as well. Zungu returned to Amiens SC after the loan ended but had dropped down the pecking order at the French side. Zungu had also fallen out of favour with the French side when he tried to force a move away from the club after their relegation to Ligue 2. He was also dropped from the team at one stage for being overweight.

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Since January 2022, Zungu has returned to the first-team fold at Amiens SC and looks to be getting his career back on track. Only 29-years-old, Zungu still attracts interest from clubs and was recently at the centre of a transfer rumour that he would be heading back to South Africa.

Before the 2021/22 season began, Kaizer Chiefs were interested in bringing the player back to Mzansi. At one stage, many were reporting that it was a done deal, however, that proved not to be the case.

Bongani Zungu makes another victorious appearance for Amiens in the French Cup

Earlier Sports Brief reported that Bafana Bafana and former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, Bongani Zungu, continued to revive his career on the European continent, at French club Amiens SC.

Zungu made another triumphant appearance in the French Cup as Amiens SC defeated minnows Linas-Monthlery. The match ended 3-3 after extra time, with Zungu subsequently converting his spot-kick in a 4-3 penalty shoot out win.

Zungu played as a central defender in that game as well and his side almost threw away the game having led 3-0 at halftime, according to iDiski Times. This comes just over a week after he appeared in another French Cup win when Amiens saw off Guingamp 3-2.