I always planned to come back to South Africa – Khumalo
FORMER BAFANA Bafana captain Bongani Khumalo has explained his reasons for returning to the PSL where he has joined former club SuperSport United.
His re-appearance came as somewhat of a surprise to many after spending five years out of the country playing in Europe. He was signed by English Premiership club Tottenham Hotspur in 2011, but failed to break into the first team and was sent out on loan to various lower division sides in the United Kingdom, while also playing for PAOK in Greece.
Khumalo, who is 28, said: “Coming back here was always something I wanted to do, but to be totally honest that would have been in another three years or so. Obviously my contract with Spurs had run out so I had to leave.
“There were other options within the UK, but there was trouble getting a work permit for various reasons. There were other alternatives too, but when you’re playing in Europe, for me it’s all about only England. The other territories I wasn’t too crazy about.
“SuperSport then came on board with a decent offer and I decided to take it.”
When asked why he has joined SuperSport, Khumalo explained it was because the club was run professionally and he had formed good relationships with them in the past.
“This was a chance to come back and work with some familiar faces. I saw it as a new challenge and of course there’s other benefits too, like being close to my family and friends again, so I was happy to return to the club.”
Though he has signed a three-year contract, Khumalo is under no illusions that things can change quickly in the football world.
“Football is sort of as and when,” he said. “I’m here now, but things can change and I’m not closing the option of Europe should it arise again, should it be right and should it make sense.
“But for now I’m focusing on SuperSport. They’ve given me a chance and my mind is purely on that.”– ANA