Kaizer Chiefs bid farewell to defender, Siyabonga Ngezana, who has signed for Romanian Lige 1 powerhouse, Fotbal Club FCSB, formerly known as Steaua Bucharesti.
The 25-year-old Youth Development Academy graduate joins the 26-time Romanian champions for an undisclosed fee after spending seven seasons as a first-team player, at Naturena, having made a goal-scoring debut against Mamelodi Sundowns in 2017.
The muscular centre-back’s most consistent campaign came in 2020-21, where he played regularly in domestic competition and featured in almost all of Amakhosi’s fixtures in the lead-up to the CAF Champions League final.
He remained a model professional who took his game very seriously even when times were tough. He trained hard and gave his best when called upon to play wherever the coach deployed him, even filling in at fullback in the midst of a freak injury crisis last season.
Back in March 2021, Ngezana signed a three-year deal with the option of a further two-year extension but, after completing just two of those years, the time has come for both Club and player to pursue different paths forward.
“There is always a tinge of sadness when a player who has risen through the ranks here leaves the Club,” says Amakhosi Sporting Director, Kaizer Motaung Jr. “However, Siya has had a good and substantial career at Kaizer Chiefs and feels the time is right to take up a new challenge. We appreciate his wholehearted commitment to Amakhosi and wish him well on his exciting adventure to Europe.”
Ngezana becomes the second Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development Academy to be sold to an overseas league in the last six months, after Njabulo Blom who joined St. Louis City SC in the Major League Soccer in the United States of America.
The Vaal-triangle-born player made a total of 123 appearances (23 in his last season) in all competitions for the Glamour Boys over seven seasons. He represented the national under-20 and under-23 teams and won two full international caps for Bafana Bafana.
Ngezana Says Goodbye to Amakhosi!
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) June 15, 2023
Kaizer Chiefs bid farewell to defender, Siyabonga Ngezana, who has signed for Romanian Lige 1 powerhouse, Fotbal Club FCSB, formerly known as Steaua Bucharesti.https://t.co/ektYRGBARu.
We wish him all the best!#ThankYouSiya #Amakhosi4Life pic.twitter.com/oCDTTEDciF