Kaizer Chiefs defender Siyabonga Ngezana says he was devastated after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was postponed due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Like his teammate Happy Mashiane, Ngezana was part of the South African U23 squad, who qualified for the Olympics after Amaglug-glug finished in the top three of the Caf U23 Cup of Nations held in Egypt in November.

Other Chiefs players – Njabulo Blom, Reeve Frosler and Nkongiphile Ngcobo – were also included in David Notoane’s U23 squad of 78 provisional players to take part in the now rescheduled Olympic Games.

The Olympics has since been postponed after the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee released a joint statement.

Following the postponement of the Olympics, Ngezana says he is using the 21-day lockdown to keep fit by continuing his training and following the guidelines provided by the club’s technical team.

‘It was devastating to learn that the Olympics Games was postponed. But more than the Olympics, we cannot function as usual when we are confronted with this serious pandemic. The world is facing this crisis of the coronavirus and all what we are all trying is doing our best to stay safe. We are in it together,’ Ngezana told his club’s official website.

‘I follow the guidelines as provided by our technical team. I stay indoors and am grateful to be spending time with my family. It is rare for us footballers to spend time with family because for most of our time, we are on the road, in camps and training.’