Bongani Zungu now available for Scottish Cup as club U-turn on South Africa decision
Bongani Zungu’s South Africa fate has finally been sealed and the Rangers loanee will now not be able to link up with Bafana Bafana during the international break.
The Gers have flip-flopped on their decision in the past week with the ongoing uncertainty surrounding travel restrictions and the potential of a mandatory quarantine.
It was only Tuesday when Times Live reported that the Light Blues had reversed their initial stance and were prepared to allow Zungu to fly out to Sudan for their second Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
However The South African now carry quotes from national team manager Molefi Nsteki who says Rangers have contacted them to confirm his absence.
“We got an email from Zungu’s club to say they are no longer releasing him – whether it’s coming to South Africa or going to Sudan,” he said.
“I then spoke to him and explained the situation, and he said, ‘It’s a decision that will work against me if ever I force to come to Sudan.’
“We saw a new list of countries that are being referred to as ‘red zones’, and in this case we have Dubai and Ethiopia, which is where players were going to have to come via to get to Sudan.”
Bitter blow for Bongani
It’s hard not to feel sympathy for Zungu’s plight.
It has been a difficult season for the Amiens loanee as he has struggled to force his way into Steven Gerrard’s side as a regular.
Indeed he has made just one Scottish Premiership start and stats like these surely suggest his future lies elsewhere and that the club will not be exercising their permanent option to sign him outright.
His part in the ‘Rangers Five’ controversy did not help matters either, though that was through no fault but his own.
An international break might have lifted his spirits somewhat but that chance is now over.
What it does do however, is hand him an opportunity to break into the Gers side for the concluding months of the season.
Cove Rangers are next on the agenda in the Scottish Cup and he will now be available to play in this fixture, something that would not have been possible if he went on international duty.
With the Premiership title secured he may also be handed an extended run of games in the league as well, so there is a slight upside to be taken from this debacle.
Whether making an impression in the remaining fixtures will be enough to secure his permanent signature remains to be see, though.
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