- Loan move on the cards for the Zebras forward?
- Club legends have previously urged him to stay
- Downs’ interest in Sibusiso Vilakazi could push him down the pecking order
BONGANI MALUNGA
Mamelodi Sundowns attacking midfielder Mogakolodi Ngele is rumoured to be one of the Pretoria outfit’s transfer listed players. Ngele has not seen much action this season due to injuries and has struggled to win a starting berth when fit, he is likely to be offloaded by the club as they target more offensive reinforcements.
Sundowns are rumoured to have drafted a transfer list that includes Ngele, Lebohang Mokoena, Katlego Mashego, Cuthbert Malajila, Rheece Evans and Flavio Bento among others. Most of the aforementioned list could depart the club on a permanent basis but Ngele could be granted a loan option.
Bidvest Wits and Supersport United are well known admirers of Ngele and could make a move for him. Prior to joining Sundowns, he was linked with a move to Wits. However, any moves attempted by the two could hit a stumbling block because Wits are Sundowns’ direct title rivals and they could be reluctant to offload him to strengthen their nearest challengers.
Ngele made only 10 league appearances this season and scored only once, this represented his lowest ever goal return in the Premier Soccer League. He played second fiddle to first choice attacking midfielder Keagan Dolly.Dolly is the club’s undisputed starter in the attacking midfield role, last season Dolly scored four league goals and provided a staggering 20 assists as Sundowns’ main creative force.
Ngele’s impressive performance in the Telkom Knockout Cup against Free State Stars was his only individual highlight of the season. the former Township Rollers played a role in four of the club’s five goals in the game including a goal for himself. Sadly, injuries and limited opportunities prevented him.
During the second half of the 2015/2016 season, Sundowns legends Roger Feutmba and Matthew Booth publicly urged Ngele to stay despite his limited playing time. Both Sundowns legends were quoted by global online magazine Goal.com.
Booth, in February, stated that Ngele should be given more chances because of his abilities to have an effect on the complexion of any match. “When Ngele is fit, he is one of those players that needs to play because he is so talented,” the former Bafana Bafana defender stated.
In March, Feutmba responded to reports that Ngele and Themba Zwane could leave the club by saying, “They (Ngele and Zwane) have both been on loan before, I don’t think they should go that route again. They should stay with the team even though they are not playing regularly because they are just as important as those playing.”
Sundowns are currently pursuing Wits attacking midfielder Vilakazi and they have even offered to part with cash plus Cuthbert Malajila and Bonginkosi Ntuli to complete the deal, according to reports from South Africa. Their Vilakazi pursuit could push Ngele further down the pecking order, his potential arrival would surely increase competition for places at Downs, thus the reports of a loan move for Ngele for first team opportunities.
Ngele’s agent, Tim Sukazi did not respond to inquiries about the player’s future when contacted by this reporter.