Slimmer and fitter Bongani Zungu close to Mamelodi Sundowns start

The coach told journalists that the former French-based star has improved his physical condition following criticism he was overweight.

Zungu, who signed on a free transfer a year ago with huge expectations after returning to his former club, was a bit-part player last season.

"He really, really is getting there. He's looking trimmer. I don't know if you guys see, he's lost a lot of weight, Bongani Zungu, and so last season when I said 'Zungu needs to lose weight and you guys were upset with the weight of Zungu. We also got to now publicly congratulate him for working so hard especially because he's shred three/four kilos now and that's very difficult," Mokwena said.

Mokwena is a known admirer of Zungu and was instrumental in swaying the player to sign for Sundowns, instead of suitors elsewhere in Europe and locally.

The coach lifted the lid on a recent private conversation with the 30-year-old.

"Bongs has struggled, look back not just here now. Bongs had a stint at Amiens and then was sent on loan to Rangers and played a little and then had a little bit of field issues and all these things. 

So, he said to me the other day and this is the starting point, he said 'I'm falling in love with the game again," the coach added.

Sundowns have played three matches since the season kicked off 10 days ago, but Zungu has only managed three minutes so far.

His club coach is adamant the ex-Glasgow Rangers midfielder still has a lot to offer.

"You have to understand, imagine if you are a player like Bongani Zungu with all the hardships that you've gone through. Now, the first thing is you start to protect your heart from the game because it's hurt you so much and now the process is to get Bongani Zungu to fall in love with the game again. 

To make the sacrifices for football again. To make football feel like number one. So, that again is another process."