Bafana Bafana midfielder Bongani Zungu has revealed that the players were worried about their safety before travelling to Lusaka for the now cancelled match against Zambia, after a week of xenophobic violence in South Africa.
The South African national team was set to take on Chipolopolo at the Heroes National Stadium in Lusaka in an international friendly on Saturday, but the Football Association of Zambia (Faz) decided to cancel the match in response to the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
French-based midfielder Zungu opened up about the situation to the media on Wednesday after Bafana beat Moroka Swallows 6-0 in a practice match at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.
‘Actually, we spoke about it as players before Zambia confirmed the cancellation of the match. We spoke about it and we were asking ourselves if we were going to be safe when we get to Zambia.
‘When the game was cancelled it was sad‚ obviously‚ because we wanted to play. But at the end of the day safety always comes first.
‘We just hope that the government can try and sort things out,’ Zungu added.
Bafana have replaced Saturday’s game with friendly against Madagascar at Orlando Stadium as they look to prepare for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Zungu also admitted that the violence had affected him while he was out of the country, being concerned about his family’s safety.
‘Yeah‚ I come from the East Rand and while I was in France before coming here for the Bafana camp I was hearing stories and it was worrying‚ because every day I had to call my family and ask them if they were OK or not‚’ Zungu said.
‘So, as I said it is a stressful thing when you are out of the country. I hope things can be better.
‘It’s very sad what’s happening in the country. Of course as a footballer me and the other guys‚ we are foreigners in other countries and to see such things happening in our country is very sad‚’ added the former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder.
‘Even our teammates in Europe‚ they speak about these kinds of things. When they look at SA and see such things thing my teammates ask me‚ “What’s going on in your country? You guys are Africans and you treat each other like this?’”
‘I hope people will come and watch and also that maybe we can try and bring the nation together by our performance‚ and playing good football and also spreading the message of trying to find peace,’ concluded the midfielder.
