FCSB defender Siyabonga Ngezana has spoken about the constant criticism he has faced throughout his career, dating back to his time at Kaizer Chiefs.
Ngezana experienced both highs and lows during his time with Amakhosi. While he demonstrated promising moments, he also made costly errors that drew criticism from fans and sometimes even boos from the stands.
His subsequent move to Romania surprised many, but he has since become a key player for both his club and the South African national team.
Ngezana has come to accept that public opinion is an inherent part of football, encompassing both praise and criticism.
“People will always talk, whether you do well or badly,” he told FARPost.
“It’s the nature of football. What I can say is that when you start something, a football career, in my case, at the professional level, at some point, I am bound to make mistakes and have setbacks. It is part of the process of growing.”
The 27-year-old centre-back highlighted his commitment to constant improvement, fueled by his ambition to succeed with both Bafana Bafana and his club.
“You do good, people will criticise; you do bad, people will also criticise. I work hard and try to limit my mistakes, but when I do commit them, I learn and become a better player,” he added.
“And when I do get it right [performance], people still talk. I’m doing my own thing and believe in myself; that’s what I can say [to my critics].”