Mokwena on Downs' Zungu deal: 'He had more lucrative offers than what we threw at him'

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rulani Mokwena is delighted to have experienced midfielder Bongani Zungu back at the club.

The 29-year-old was unveiled at a packed Loftus Versfeld where Masandawana beat Kaizer Chiefs 4-0 on Saturday.

Mokwena believes Zungu will provide strong competition for the other Sundowns midfielders, further bolstering an already formidable squad.

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"I want to congratulate the club and the management for a lot of hard work done behind the scenes," Mokwena told the media after the match on Saturday.

"It was a complicated deal, and it took very long; [there were] lots of issues. And I also want to thank Bongani for his patience and trust because he had other offers.

"Bongani chose to come to us, and he was very patient. [He] even [had] more lucrative [offers] than what we threw [at him]. But sometimes it helps when there are good relations between coaches and players because the desire to come and work with the coach and be part of the set-up helps."

Zungu was without a club after parting ways with French outfit Amiens SC in July.

"I want to thank Bongani for his patience and his family for the support that they gave him in trying to make sure that he chooses us instead of other options that they had," Mokwena added.

"And we are just excited that the club has made that decision to support bringing Bongs here, and we are looking forward to him coming into the team and competing for a position which is going to be very difficult.

"We got very good players in Bongani Zungu's position, and he is also a very good player that makes the