Khumalo on the rocks
BONGANI Khumalo's football adventure has become a nightmare.
HOPES DASHED: Bafana Bafana defender Bongani Khumallo. Photo:James OatwayHe started his first few games at Reading, then was dropped to the bench. Perhaps the pressure just got to him
The Bafana Bafana defender, who starred at the 2010 World Cup, went off to England early in that year to seek his soccer fortune - but he could return home this year with only broken dreams.
He left South Africa on transfer to English Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, who seemed keen at the time to use his defensive qualities in their rearguard.
At first the future seemed rosy for Khumalo, especially when his Bafana skipper Steven Pienaar joined him at White Hart Lane in a transfer from Everton.
But when Khumalo did not measure up to Harry Redknapp's requirements, it all went awry for the South African.
He was quickly dispatched to second-tier English Championship outfit Reading to get the game time that he was missing at Spurs.
A regular start in the Reading first team did not last long, and Khumalo was left to languish in the reserves.
Now he is heading back to Tottenham because of the January transfer window politics.
With money to spend after they were taken over by new owners, Reading are clearing their decks for new players before the window closes on Monday, and Khumalo is surplus to requirements.
Next week Khumalo will find himself back at White Hart Lane, against warming the bench.
Khumalo had been on loan to Reading until the end of the season but since the new owners took over at the Royals, the club has been eager to get rid of its deadwood, which Khumalo appears to be part of.
Reading manager Brian McDermott confirmed yesterday that Khumalo was not in his plans as the club prepares a bid for their transfer target Karleigh Osborne, also a defender, from Brentford, an English League One club.
"Bongani will go back to Spurs and we have to cover the Sean Morrison situation until the end of the season (Morrison has gone on loan). And that cover will be Osborne," said McDermott.
Spurs signed Khumalo in January 2010 from three-time Absa Premiership champions SuperSport United. He was joined by Pienaar a year later.
However, the former United captain struggled to break into Redknapp's team, facing tough competition from William Gallas, Matthew Dawson, Ledley King and Younes Kaboul at centre-back.
Khumalo featured regularly for Reading when he arrived at the club in August, but has since fallen out of favour with McDermott.
Local football writer James Walker-Roberts suggested that Reading would not be sad to see Khumalo go. "Frankly, he's been disappointing since he came to the club on loan from Tottenham," said Walker-Roberts, who covers the club for the Reading Chronicle.
"He started his first few games at Reading, then was dropped to the bench. Perhaps the pressure just got to him."
Mapholobakay1
ALL SOUTH AFRICAN STARS WHO LEFT FOR GREENER PASTURES IN EU AND GOT REJECTED MUST COME BACK HOME...except for May Mahlaungu...he is the best.Report Abuse
ntshware-ke-yawa
I feel sori 4 u broer,but as one of South African soccer fan I still believe you can come home and continue playing football and forget abt those English head-strongs who just wanna see your career doomed.Tottenham never wanted to give you a chance afterall.
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boikarabelo
it's too early for bongani to come back home,he get a deal elsewere in europe....Report Abuse
TOUGHGUY
These boys don't understand English soccer and they rush to go and play there.Very few of our current players can make a grade over there. Same as KatLego Killer Mphela who want to force his way to England and uyavilapha futhi lomfana telling you that boy will fail dismal. Football is different there also racism still exist. Khumalo must just come back home and join any of the big 3 with the same salary like the Bennie's.
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ModiseP
Khumalo perfomance is how he played and playing in tottenharm.Hot spurs recruit Khumalo with the same perfomance and today they are expecting miracle from him.Oversee base teams want our players to die on the field for their own benefit.Join oversee teams to make money and come back home.It depenndants of how oversee apartheid in teams favour your side.That's nothing wrong with your perfomance,their apartheid judge you wrongly.Report Abuse
little
you have talent Boy and without a reasonable doubt you will find your form, competition might be very tough there but keep on working hard, you will be Fine.Lešole ge leile Ntweng ga le boele morago, keep on fighting
You have my support boy.
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