FOR most people, the inclusion of Anele Ngcongca in the final Bafana Bafana 23 was a jaw-dropper.
FOR most people, the inclusion of Anele Ngcongca in the final Bafana Bafana 23 was a jaw-dropper.
But Ngcongca was not shocked. He was aware that popular opinion was against him.
He said: "My mom had been calling from Cape Town, upset and trying to find out from me why the papers thought I should not be in the team.
"I told her that only God knows what my chances were. And that I was going to use the only language I know - and that is football. But it has been pretty tough on me."
The 23-year-old KRC Genk player admits part of the icy comments could come from his being an unfamiliar proposition since he did not play for an Absa Premiership side before going overseas.
In fact, besides Franklin Cale, who was his teammate at Western Province United, he knew none of the Bafana players personally.
But assuming he chatted to striker Katlego Mphela, he would have discovered that football-worshipping South Africans love their Absa Premiership stars, and if you do not establish yourself here first, it takes them a bit longer to warm to you. Still, as hard as it will be for him to build his brand locally during a tournament as massive as the World Cup, Ngcongca says he is a man of great character and is not fazed by pressure.
"I work very, very hard. And if given a chance, I deliver. I will avail myself for the coach to use me as he sees fit. I can be at right back, central back and I can also play in the midfield," he said.
"The World Cup is every player's dream. I am aware that great players such as Ryan Giggs missed out on playing at the World Cup their whole career. I realise just how lucky I am."
Ngcongca brims with confidence
FOR most people, the inclusion of Anele Ngcongca in the final Bafana Bafana 23 was a jaw-dropper.
FOR most people, the inclusion of Anele Ngcongca in the final Bafana Bafana 23 was a jaw-dropper.
But Ngcongca was not shocked. He was aware that popular opinion was against him.
He said: "My mom had been calling from Cape Town, upset and trying to find out from me why the papers thought I should not be in the team.
"I told her that only God knows what my chances were. And that I was going to use the only language I know - and that is football. But it has been pretty tough on me."
The 23-year-old KRC Genk player admits part of the icy comments could come from his being an unfamiliar proposition since he did not play for an Absa Premiership side before going overseas.
In fact, besides Franklin Cale, who was his teammate at Western Province United, he knew none of the Bafana players personally.
But assuming he chatted to striker Katlego Mphela, he would have discovered that football-worshipping South Africans love their Absa Premiership stars, and if you do not establish yourself here first, it takes them a bit longer to warm to you. Still, as hard as it will be for him to build his brand locally during a tournament as massive as the World Cup, Ngcongca says he is a man of great character and is not fazed by pressure.
"I work very, very hard. And if given a chance, I deliver. I will avail myself for the coach to use me as he sees fit. I can be at right back, central back and I can also play in the midfield," he said.
"The World Cup is every player's dream. I am aware that great players such as Ryan Giggs missed out on playing at the World Cup their whole career. I realise just how lucky I am."