FCSB defender Siyabonga Ngezana has reflected on his decision to undergo surgery to fix his problematic knee after a difficult season, which culminated in him missing out on Bafana Bafana selection for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The former Kaizer Chiefs centre-back recently went under the knife to repair his torn meniscus, which limited his game time during the second half of the 2025/26 season. After starting the term on a high, enjoying some regular football for his Romanian side, Ngezana was then struck by injury, leaving his knee needing to be operated on.
But he postponed undergoing surgery required for a permanent solution to the nagging knee while playing under medication to temporarily numb the pain. That saw him playing just two games for FCSB since the end of January, when he sustained the injury.
With Ngezana battling fitness issues, Bafana coach Hugo Broos opted against summoning the defender for international duty during the March FIFA break. The Belgian also did not consider him for his World Cup squad.
SIYABONGA NGEZANA ON ACCEPTING ‘HARD TO SWALLOW’ WORLD CUP FATE
Ngezana has opened up to FARPost on his decision to delay surgery as he targeted a Bafana World Cup spot. Following his exclusion from Broos’ squad, he chose to finally have the medical procedure.
“Obviously, I made the decision, one of the hardest decisions I’ve made, to have surgery. It was not part of the plan, obviously, to have it this time,” Ngezana told FARPost.
“I wanted to have it after the World Cup because I didn’t want to miss [the World Cup]. The plan was not to miss the World Cup. You know, there was so much sacrifice just to stay ready, inasmuch as I knew I wasn’t 100 per cent ready. I just wanted to be part of the World Cup, whether I’m playing or not.
“That’s how badly I wanted to be [at the World Cup]. But by God’s will, I wasn’t supposed to be there, but it’s okay, and I take it. This is so hard to swallow, accepting that I’m now starting to heal.”
WHEN IS NGEZANA EXPECTED BACK TO FULL FITNESS?
Now that he has started his recovery process, the former Chiefs defender expects to return to action in two or three months.
“Difficult season for me playing with so much pain for seven months, but then denying having surgery not to miss the World Cup. Now things did not go the way I planned, the way I thought,” Ngezana went on.
“I missed a lot of games being on the sidelines because of this injury. So many setbacks because when I got back, I got injured again.
“So, now was the right time for me to have surgery, and hopefully I will recover quickly. It’s a meniscus and not ACL. Meniscus is not like it will take you out for six months.
“It’s only, maximum three months or two months, depending on your genes. I’m from Africa, and I hope I can recover quickly.”
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