Ibrox View: Rangers fans must ignore unfair criticism of international star
Rangers midfielder Bongani Zungu came in for criticism on Monday after South Africa’s 4-2 victory over Sao Tome and Principe.
Zungu played well off the bench against the same opponents on Friday in a 2-0 win, scoring a late header to seal the victory. Described as having a “blinder” in a statement by the South African Football Association, the 28-year-old was selected from the start for the reverse fixture on Monday.
However, he attracted attention after the game following a where he criticised fans for their high expectations.
In response, a series of South African supporters demanded a more convincing standard of performance, with the 182nd in the world ranked Atlantic Ocean island leading 1-0 early on.
However, Zungu himself was one of the Bafana Bafana’s better players and this controversy should not worry Rangers fans. The Ibrox faithful were very impressed with his debut performance against Hamilton Academical, where he replaced Ryan Jack at half-time, and this showing reinforced some of the qualities on display that day.
Playing at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, Zungu started in a similar role to where he featured against Hamilton and his technical ability and passing range was immediately obvious.
South Africa went behind early on, but the Rangers man was crucial in creating their equaliser, using his body effectively to win a second ball high up the pitch and laying it to his midfield partner who found the assist.
Seeing him further up the pitch will have interested Steven Gerrard, who has a challenge fitting all the midfield talent at his disposal into a functioning line-up. However, it was at the base where his long-range passing skills really shined and he launched numerous attacks like the one below with raking passes.
This range of passing was obvious immediately against Hamilton and seeing it here, it is clearly a real strength of his.
Now, a 4-2 win against Sao Tome and Principe is not a glamorous result and South Africa fans are perhaps entitled to feel concerned. However, Zungu was very good on the day against the opposition in front of him, and no doubts about his quality should be raised at this stage.
In other Rangers news, Ibrox view: What can Bongani Zungu bring to the Rangers midfield?