Kaizer Chiefs academy graduate Siyabonga Ngezana is determined to see his dream of playing against Manchester United come true.
The 27-year-old defender has made remarkable progress over the last two years since joining Romanian club FCSB from his boyhood team, Kaizer Chiefs. Ngezana played a key role in helping FCSB secure their first domestic league title in nine years.
FCSB is now competing in the UEFA Europa League and is on the brink of advancing to the last 16.
The Romanian club currently sits eighth in the League phase standings with 14 points, while Manchester United is in fourth place with 15 points. On Thursday, FCSB will host the Red Devils in a decisive fixture that could determine both teams’ paths to the knockout stage.
For Ngezana, the opportunity to face Manchester United is the realization of a childhood dream.
“Actually, I’ve been thinking about this since the draw, when we were placed in the same group as Manchester United,” the Bafana Bafana international told iDiski Times.
“For me, it’s a dream come true—playing against the team that I support. Manchester United is rich in history, and just getting the chance to play against them feels surreal. Growing up, I was a big fan of the Premier League, and Manchester United was my team.”
Ngezana explained how this prospect has motivated him.
“Every training session, every workout, I think about Manchester. It’s a massive inspiration for me. I can’t wait for the game. It feels like everything is coming together at this moment,” he added.
However, the defender admitted to battling minor injuries that could jeopardize his participation in the highly anticipated match.
“I’m getting some injuries that I don’t quite understand, but I’m hopeful I will recover in time. I hope to play that game because it would mean so much to me,” Ngezana concluded.