BIG-TIME BONGANI
Dean Furman tells how Gers new boy and pal Zungu coped with pressure at South African giants and insists he will again if thrown into Old Firm derby
DEAN FURMAN joined Chelsea as a kid at the same time as Roman Abramovich arrived in west London to bankroll a mega-money Stamford Bridge revolution.
Yet despite being at the Blues during a golden period for the club when they splashed millions on superstar players, he was still struck by the size and history of Rangers when he swapped the King’s Road for Govan.
But the South African is backing compatriot and former international teammate Bongani Zungu to cope with the pressure and demands of life at Ibrox.
Furman signed for Gers as a highly-rated midfielder shortly after Paul Le Guen t ook charge – although the deal had been agreed prior to the French flop’s arrival – after rising through the Chelsea youth ranks.
But now the 32year-old managed just one first-team appearance when he came on as a sub in a 3-1 win over Dundee United a few days before the club’s UEFA Cup Final appearance 12 years ago.
After failing to break into a strong midfield with skipper Barry Ferguson, Steven Davis, Kevin Thomson and Brahim Hemdani for competition, he moved south of the border and carved out a career at Bradford and Doncaster.
The Cape Town-born man then returned for a stint in South Africa and he came up against Zungu who he spent seven years alongside in South Africa’s engine room.
Furman kept a close eye on his pal’s proposed move to Gers from Amiens and was delighted the loan deal was sealed on transfer deadline day and is set to give him the lowdown on Rangers.
Furman, now at Carlisle, captained the Light Blues Under-19 side to a memorable 5-0 thrashing of Celtic in the Scottish Youth Cup Final at Hampden in 2007.
But Zungu could experience the real deal with the 28-year-old expected to join his team-mates this week before Saturday’s first Old Firm derby of the season.
Furman told Record Sport: “I don’t know how Bongani is fitness-wise but it would be really amazing if he was ready and thrown into the Old Firm game.
“What a fixture to start with, although the downside is that no fans will be there because that makes the fixture world famous.
“But even without fans it’s still a top game, so it would be an amazing welcome to Scottish football. If he’s not ready then he’ll realise quickly just by watching what it’s all about.
“The thing that struck me once I was in Rangers was the enormity of the club, the size of the fan base and the expectations. Even at Under-19 level, where I came in, there was huge pressure and people watching your every move.
“I’d been at Chelsea so it was one massive club to another and when you’re living in Glasgow everyone just wants to stop you and talk football.
“You are scrutinised on and off the pitch and he’ll have experienced that kind of attention in South Africa. Bongani will have to deal with that again.
“But he played for Mamelodi Sundowns, who are one of the biggest teams in South Africa, and the national team fans expect us to beat everyone, so he has grown accustomed to expectations, pressure and scrutiny.
“I don’ t think the demands will be a shock to him at Ibrox. He’s dealt with that throughout his career. He could havee stayed at Sundowns and beenn comfortable but it was hiss dream to move to Europe.
“When the fans comee back, Bongani will be struck by the size of it and the history. Hopefully he’ll feel what it’s like to be loved by thousands and thousands of ardent Rangers fans.”
Gers 1950s stars Johnny
Hubbard and Don Kichenbrand also hailed from South Africa and became leaguewinning legends. And Furman hopes Zungu can do the same by ending a decade-long wait for top tier title glory at Ibrox. Furman g ave an ininsight into what he will ofoffer Steven Gerrard’s side afafter playing with and agagainst him. He said: “I remember whwhen he first came in as a yoyoung player and he very quiquickly caught my eye. “He’s big and physical so the Scottish Premiership shoshouldn’t be a problem for himhim. Some of the opposition on thet African continent are partparticularly big and he never strustruggled in that department. “In fact, at the last Africa Cup of Nations he scored headers from set-pieces, so it shows he can handle himself.
“But he’s also very good on the ball for a big guy, which initially impressed me.
“I’ve always played with him as a more attacking midfielder but he’s adapted to become a little more defensive so that’s another string to his bow. “My role in the national team was to sit in front of the back four and get on the ball and build the play, so Bongani was the more attacking. “I also came up against a him when I mmoved to South Africa Af and played against ag Mamelodi Su Sundowns. He scored sco a brilliant goa goal against us. “He was more of an attacking, boxto-to-bbox midfielder, and playing for a team expected to w ii nn , pro du c e trophies trop and play good football. “TThat bodes well for cocoming to Rangers where wher there are similar simila expectations.”
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