Two awards in the bag, Ngezana opens up about his biggest goal
After being named Defender of the Season and Best Foreign Footballer in Romania, Siyabonga Ngezana has revealed his biggest goal, while explaining the significance of these awards.
Ngezana enjoyed a triumphant Tuesday night, collecting two prestigious awards in Romania just 18 months after his arrival.
The former Kaizer Chiefs player was named SupaLiga Defender of the Year at the 2024 Fanatik Super Gala, a glittering ceremony hosted by the renowned Romanian sports publication.
Later that evening, Ngezana further solidified his success by being crowned the Best Foreign Player in the league at the 2024 Romanian Football Gala, an event organised by the Sports Club of Journalists of Romania to honour the most outstanding performers of the year.
Since joining FCSB from Amakhosi in 2023, Ngezana has established himself as a vital part of the team’s defence, overcoming a challenging start.
In his debut season in Romania, the 27-year-old Ngezana became a cornerstone of FCSB’s resurgence, playing a pivotal role as the club ended a nine-year league title drought. This historic triumph, a watershed moment for the club, also marked the first major trophy of Ngezana’s professional career. The euphoria continued as FCSB, with Ngezana a stalwart presence in their defence, lifted the Super Cup before the start of the current campaign.
FCSB’s domestic success earned them a spot in the UEFA Europa League, where they are enjoying a good run of form, having won three of their five group-stage matches so far.
Ngezana made 31 appearances last season and has already played 21 games this campaign, including games in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
His impressive performances at Romanian giants FCSB also earned him a place in the Bafana Bafana squad under coach Hugo Broos, where he has also performed well.
However, for Ngezana, the two individual awards are merely stepping stones on his journey to achieve his ultimate goal: to play in one of Europe’s top leagues.
ROMANIA SUCCESS: SIYABONGA NGEZANA’S BIGGER PICTURE
“It means a lot to win these awards,” said Ngezana in an interview with FARPost. It took a lot of hard work, which is a sign of the fruits of my labour. This is a payoff for my hard work and determination. I have made sacrifices to become the best. Leaving my family behind was not an easy decision to make. I went through a rough patch when I started. But with hard work, I learned from my mistakes and became a better player. There is still room for improvement, and I want to grow.”
Ngezana, a beacon of hope for aspiring footballers from his hometown of Sebokeng in the Vaal, stated the inspirational value of his achievements. He expressed pride in motivating young players in South Africa.
“Also, these awards are a motivation for the upcoming players, especially from the township where I came from, the Vaal area – in Sebokeng. It means I’m an inspiration to them and all over South Africa and Romania as well,” he added.
‘LIVING ABROAD HAS MADE ME A STRONGER PERSON’: NGEZANA
The Bafana Bafana international – Ngezana, also emphasised that living away from home in Romania has forced him to grow significantly.
“The change of environment has helped me to challenge myself. Being away from home is not a comfort zone, but that has made me grow quickly because the only thing I do in Romania is play football,” he added.
“The support from my teammates, fans, and coaches made it easier for me to settle in. They made me feel at home.”
But his ambition knows no bounds. While recognising his achievements in Romania as valuable milestones, Ngezana revealed his sights are set on even greater heights. He strongly desires to compete at the highest level, aiming to play in top-tier leagues such as the English Premier League and La Liga.
“It is a big achievement for me just to come here and play in Europe and to win something. It means a lot, but I cannot say it is enough. I still have dreams to achieve and build a legacy. I want to play in the top leagues in Germany, France, England and Spain.”
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