Zungu on his collapsed move to Spanish giants

Bafana Bafana midfielder Bongani Zungu has expressed his utter frustration after learning at the 11th hour that his expected loan spell from Amiens SC to Spanish La Liga outfit Real Mallorca had fallen through.

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Zungu, 27, was devastated especially after having agreed terms and was now left with just signing on the dotted line, but the deal fell through after the French outfit failed to land Kenyan international Victor Wanyama from English Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur.

Bongani Zungu nearly joined La Liga side Mallorca on transfer deadline day from French League 1 club Amiens SC but the move failed having travelled to Spain and passed medicals.
Bongani Zungu in action for French League 1 club Amiens SC.
Image: Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images

“The most difficult thing was the fact that I went there. I did the medicals‚ the team agreed to a loan with an offer to purchase‚” Zungu was quoted during his live interview with Robert Marawa on the internet-based MarawaTV.

“We agreed personal terms‚ I passed the medicals‚ and we were just waiting for one document‚ and just a signature.

“It didn’t happen. Personally I was mad. I was sending messages to the [Amiens] director saying‚ ‘But we spoke’.

“Because he called me the night before I left and said‚ ‘Are you sure‚ do you want to go?’. I said‚ ‘Yeah‚ I want to do this’. And he said‚ ‘OK‚ OK’.

“And‚ everything was good but it just didn’t happen. And only to find out that the president of the club [Bernard Joannin] just didn’t want to lose me yet.

“And‚ yeah‚ I had to come back and I had to be in training. I think it was a Thursday‚ and we had a game on Saturday.

“That is very difficult mentally. And also for the coach‚ because‚ what is he going to say to me?

“But‚ at the end of the day it’s part of life‚ it’s part of being a professional player. I’m strong mentally and I had to regroup‚ I had to understand that‚ ‘OK‚ these things happen’.

“And thanks to my agent too. Because maybe the flight was like 40 minutes‚ and he tried to make me understand because I was mad.

“I regrouped. And when I came back the games I played after this whole thing I was really on top of my game‚ I was fit‚ no injuries and no pain‚ and I was killing everyone, ” he added.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns man further explained of how the club apologized to him after the move failed to materialize.

“The club apologised to me‚ the president‚ director‚ managers‚ they came and said‚ ‘Sorry this thing didn’t happen but now it’s time to regroup. We need you here’.

“I said‚ ‘Okay’‚ and continued the hard work, ” Zungu added.

The Duduza-born midfield maestro will now be looking to aid his charges escape relegation when football action resumes again.