Just days after lifting his fourth trophy in Europe, Siyabonga Ngezana will get on with business for his second bite in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
Ngezana’s employers – Romanian champions FCSB – get going from the preliminary round of the Champions League qualifiers against Inter Club d’Escaldes of Andorra at home in Bucharest on Wednesday evening.
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FCSB are heavily favoured to get past the Andorran champions, who have never gone past the first qualifying round of this competition.
So, proceeding to the next stage should be standard for FCSB, who won the Champions League in 1986.
Should Ngezana’s club go through, then the second qualifying round will pit them against either The New Saints (Wales) or FK Shkëndija from North Macedonia.
Just like last season, there will be a drop into the Europa League third qualifying round if FCSB come stuck at this stage.
If they remain in the Champions League, then it will be the third qualifying round and play-off round, before the group stage, where PSG, Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Barcelona headline the teams waiting.
Taking into consideration that Ngezana’s transfer value doubled after FCSB reached the Last 16 of the Europa League, there will be another value expectation spike this term.
Ngezana’s value is certain to go above 5 million Euros (approx. R104 million), placing Kaizer Chiefs for a sizeable sell-on should the 27-year-old then be sold.
The Soweto giants have a 10% sell-on benefit for the towering defender.
There have been eyes of interest on Ngezana from French and Belgian clubs with the English Championship also mentioned.
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Ngezana moved to Romania for about R11 million, but that will now be tenfold if FCSB get another successful campaign in Europe.
Since moving to FCSB, Ngezana has also broken into the Bafana Bafana squad, earning seven caps since June last year.
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