Kaizer Chiefs defender Siyabonga Ngezana is slowly growing up and has now become an excellent centre-back in Arthur Zwane’s side.
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Ngezana was one of Zwane’s players to show confidence early on, but after making some costly mistakes, he had to be benched.
It has been a miracle as Ngezana is now back and bringing stability to a Chiefs defense that has been suspect all season.
Speaking about his experience earlier this season, Ngezana appreciated Zwane’s faith in him and how he kept believing in him despite his mistakes.
“That’s how I deal with situations, inspired by the coach and the players.
“And it also shows people that we’re human as professional players, so we make mistakes.
“It shows that not everything is going to be smooth sailing in life,” Ngezana said in an interview on Vodacom’s Ringa Nathi YouTube series.
And in Saturday’s narrow win over 10-man Richards Bay, Ngezana delivered a Man-of-the-Match performance.
It was a first-half header that saved Chiefs from failing to collect full points against a side reduced to 10 men.
Using the height advantage in playing the plane
“It’s not just about me alone. But we start from the back to the front – we defend as a team.
“And we won as a team,” Ngezana said after the DStv Premiership match at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, south of Durban.
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“We’ve been working hard on set pieces in training. As defenders, we try every way to help the forwards.
“If they can’t score, we can also score. We can use our height in front when we have set the play.
“So, credit to the boys. We all deserve this,” added the 25-year-old Sebokeng defender.
Since his return, Ngezana has played as a center back, pushing Zitha Kwinika at right back.
“It’s up to the coach. He plays whoever he thinks fits in a certain position,” he said of the new position.
“Now I play as a central defender and I can keep a clean sheet but like I said, it’s not me,” said Ngezana.
“Edmilson Dove, Sifiso Hlanti, Zitha Kwinika and Brandon Petersen (keeper) … Everyone at the back, we all contributed to have this clean sheet.”