Former AmaZulu defender Sazi Ngubane has appealed for help after spinal tuberculosis left him unable to walk and struggling to support his family.

Ngubane, who turns 60 on 16 December, has been dealing with serious health problems since 2023. He now uses a wheelchair and depends on other people for assistance.

The former defender was part of the AmaZulu team that won the Coca-Cola Cup in 1992. He said his illness began while he was coaching Royal AM’s DStv Diski Challenge team.

After two unsuccessful attempts to contact him, Soccer Laduma spoke to Ngubane by telephone on Monday afternoon. He explained that he had been trying to get home from town despite being unable to walk independently.

“I’ve been sick since 2023. I was coaching at Royal AM, the DDC team. When I started feeling unwell, I went to a doctor in Pietermaritzburg because that’s also where the team’s clubhouse was situated,” he told the Siya crew.

“From there, I was referred to Midlands Specialist Private Hospital for specialised scans and so on.”

Ngubane said his condition failed to improve and he was later referred to Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital for further treatment. Royal AM placed him on sick leave, allowing him to spend time at home with his wife and child while continuing to attend medical appointments.

However, when surgery became necessary, there was no one available to pay for the operation, despite his employment.

“So, the process couldn’t go ahead at the private hospital, and I had to go to a public hospital. Things went from bad to worse for me,” he said.

He was admitted to Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital in KwaMashu and subsequently received treatment at several other hospitals, including King Dinuzulu Hospital.

Ngubane faces lengthy recovery

Ngubane said he had undergone several operations without seeing the improvement he hoped for.

“I have been changing hospitals, whether it is King Dinuzulu Hospital or whatever, and I haven’t been seeing any improvement. As I am talking to you, I have already done five operations, if I remember well, and it hasn’t been easy for me. The last one was early this year,” he said.

“I was admitted in March this year, and I had been in hospital for seven months, until I got a pass out at the end of last month, on 31 October 2026. They said they were giving me some time to visit home and just take a break. I will be going back to hospital for a check-up on 18 November 2026.”

Ngubane has four children but lives with his wife and one of them. His wife is also unemployed, leaving the family under significant financial pressure.

“The only hope I have right now is hearing that the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture in KZN has promised to call me, and I am waiting on that,” he said.

“Otherwise, no one has reached out, and it has been such a struggle, not only for me but for my family too. It’s difficult to make ends meet, and you can imagine being the sole breadwinner, with my wife also not working. I am crying for help.”

Ngubane later worked in player development at Royal AM, helping shape the careers of Orlando Pirates defender Sibangani Zulu and Golden Arrows captain Ayanda Jiyane, among others.