Soccer
Khumalo: PSL not an option
2012-05-29 11:16
Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana defender Bongani Khumalo has no intention of
returning to the Premier Soccer League, according to the player's agent.
The former SuperSport United captain has endured a difficult time
since signing joining Premier League giants Tottenham in January 2011,
with the centre back having failed to make a single appearance for the
club, having been loaned out to Preston North End and Reading.
However, the player's representative, Glyn Binkin, says his
client is determined to stick it out in north London and earn his place
in Harry Redknapp's squad.
"Bongani has made it clear on his side that he wants to remain in
Europe and he hopes to get an opportunity at Tottenham Hotspur. He is
still contracted to the club for another three years and he will go back
to Tottenham for pre-season at the beginning of July," Binkin told Football411.
Khumalo, who has had to contend with playing second fiddle to
Siyabonga Sangweni and Morgan Gould in Bafana's central defence, was
sent on loan to PNE two months after arriving in London and was later
loaned to the Royals.
However, the Championship club released him back to Spurs halfway
through his season-long loan after failing to nail down a regular place
in the side since the end of August 2011, partly due to injuries.
Despite the challenges ahead of the player, Binkin insists that Khumalo can make it in Europe.
"There is no chance of him coming back to South Africa. He is not
going to come back because it suits everybody else and Bongani will do
what's right for Bongani. He will be patient," Binkin continued.
"In many respects Bongani reminds me of a young Lucas Radebe, who
went to Leeds United at age 24 and initially, he struggled with
injuries. But Lucas got his chance eventually and he made a success of
his career in England, so hopefully it will be the same with Bongani.
I'm very confident that Bongani can make it in England."
Binkin added: "I think what people need to realise is that
Bongani is learning a lot despite the fact that he has not got his
chance yet with the first team. The standard in the reserve league or in
Tottenham's youth side is incredibly high so he has developed and
become a better player."