Three way battle for Ngele as Downs contract runs down

  • Pirates, Wits and Supersport willing to sign Ngele
  • Ngele set to leave Sundowns in June when his contract expires

BONGANI MALUNGA

Mogakolodi Ngele is only a month away from being free to negotiate a deal with other clubs during the January transfer window. The Zebras star has been frozen out of first team action by Mamelodi Sundowns without being given a clear explanation and he has been training away from the first team for a large part of the last six months.

The only competitive action he has been afforded is with the national team. In January Ngele will have only six months left on his Sundowns contract and he will be allowed to start entertaining offers from other clubs according to FIFA laws. During that time he may even sign a pre-contract with any suitable club or make a verbal agreement with the view of joining a new club on a free transfer in June.

Reports indicate that long time admirers of Ngele, Orlando Pirates, will be in the mix again as they aim to finally sign him. The club was keen to sign him in August but once again they were knocked back after Sundowns insisted on the R5 million transfer fee which scared off Bidvest Wits and Supersport United in previous years.

A source, who is a close affiliate of Ngele, has informed Gazette Sport that Pirates, Wits and Supersport are still interested in signing Ngele and they might wait for the player’s contract to run down to avoid paying a transfer fee they believe is too high for a player who is not active.

“Floyd Mbele has been tracking Ngele for a long time, the only stumbling block right now is the transfer fee which Sundowns do not want to reduce. Gavin Hunt also wants him at Wits, they have worked together and they already formed a great understanding, Supersport cannot be ruled out as another alternative. Pirates have always wanted him while Wits and Supersport would almost certainly guarantee first team football, he will be spoilt for choice,” said the source. The player looks set to sit out the rest of the season at Sundowns while waiting for his contract to end.