Bongani ‘can still make big time’
WITH a new season comes potential heartache for Bongani Khumalo — a journeyman few coaches seem to want on their books ahead of a gruelling season.
Since leaving SuperSport United for English club Tottenham Hotspur in an R18-million move three years ago, the former Bafana skipper has almost slipped into oblivion.
Khumalo, 27, was billed to be the next Lucas Radebe, also a former South African defender and captain, who was greatly admired at Leeds United during his 11 years there.
While Khumalo still has age on his side, he does not enjoy that kind of affection at White Hart Lane. But Radebe reckons Khumalo still has time to make it in the big league.
This week, “Rhoo” urged the lanky defender to stay put at Spurs and convince new manager Mauricio Pochettino — coincidentally a central defender himself in his playing days — that he can be relied on.
“I know very well how difficult it is to go to a different country with a lot of expectations, especially a country where they prefer to groom their own,” said Radebe, who ended his career at Leeds.
“But it is a great challenge that will improve Bongani’s footballing experience. The first couple of years are very difficult — that’s when you need to work harder and get your fitness up, acclimatise and have a good attitude.”
Khumalo arrived at Spurs with game time looking likely under then manager Harry Redknapp. Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate appeared to have reached the end of the road in the top flight and Michael Dawson was plagued by injuries.
His contract with the North London club, which expires next year, has been a cushion for Khumalo while he was being sent to four different teams on loan, including Doncaster Rovers.
Radebe was against Khumalo opening the door, even ever so slightly, for a return to the domestic Absa Premiership, where he was arguably one of the best defenders. “Whether he is playing or not shouldn’t really put him down. That really shouldn’t faze him. The first two years of your career abroad are all about grafting. Just dig in.
“He’s been loaned out a few times and this is the time to make his mark. I know he’s been injured a lot, delaying his progress, but that’s part of the game and I think clubs generally accept that,” said Radebe.
Gavin Hunt, Khumalo’s coach at SuperSport, failed to talk the defender out of moving to a big club in the UK. Perhaps a mid-table side would have been a better stepping stone, he argued. “Don’t get me wrong, I was very happy for him,” said Hunt.
“But it was too big a jump, especially for a central defender. I think maybe if he was playing a different position, things would have been different. I can understand: when a deal like that comes, you grab it.
“In my opinion, defenders mature much later. You can argue that when Lucas went there he was a success. But he was a little bit older [Radebe was a year older than Khumalo when he signed for Leeds]. Bongani has done the right thing by not coming back. Just stick it out.
“But my problem is that when you do that you end up playing for the smaller teams and no-one even remembers you.”