Sukazi holds the key to Ngele’s PSL revival

BONGANI MALUNGA

Mogakolodi Ngele already has an impressive CV in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) having won trophies and being the highest scoring Motswana in the South African league.     However, injuries and limited.game time at Mamelodi Sundowns have reduced him to a fringe player at the title chasing Pretoria outfit.
Ngele is not accustomed to being a role player, he had previously been the star player at all his former clubs before joining Sundowns. The Pitso Mosimane led club has an array of stars who appear to be immovable as Ngele has tried to break into the first team, he has been involved in only nine of the club’s 25 league games so far and has only scored once in the league, this represents his lowest scoring rate in his PSL career.
The former Township Rollers player changed agents last year as he left Mike Makaab’s Prosport International to join Tim Sukazi’s Quality Talent Sports (QT Sports) agency. Sukazi is one of South Africa’s highest regarded agents with a clientèle that includes Daine Klate, Brilliant Khuzwayo, Eric Mathoho, Elias Pelembe, Katlego Mashego and Kennedy Mweene amongst many others.
The QT Sports Chief Executive Officer has a knack for helping his clients overcome difficult situations, he also has connections at Sundowns through the many players he represents. Sukazi holds the key to Ngele’s revival due to his past success of engineering moves for clients with limited opportunities.
He once helped his client Kwanda Mngonyama to move to Maritzburg United on loan after growing frustrated at Sundowns. Mngonyama, a South African national under 23 asset, was not given playing opportunities at first team level and Sukazi intervened by negotiating with the parent club to allow the youngster to move to Maritzburg United.
Sukazi’s argument was based on the fact that as the South African under 23 captain, Mngonyama was an instrumental part of the team’s attempt to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics and that he needed competitive club action in order to be match fit for the national side.
The same school of thought applies for Ngele because limited game time could affect his confidence and match fitness as the Botswana national football team is aiming to qualify for the 2017 AFCON tournament. His agent’s intervention could help his situation as Sukazi has always prided himself in putting his clients first.
Despite his first team struggles, he could become the second Motswana to win a PSL title if his club retains their position at the top of the log, the Pretoria giants are only five games away from winning the coveted prize.
Provided they win the title, Ngele will join Phenyo Mongala who won the league with Orlando Pirates in 2011. Ngele is currently out of action after sustaining an injury on international duty over a fortnight ago.