Botswana international Mogakolodi Ngele is set for a return to Chloorkop after Bidvest Wits opted against signing him from Mamelodi Sundowns.
While it was believed that the Students were interested in making his loan deal permanent, the hefty price tag placed on his head by Sundowns seemed to scare away the Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions.
As a result, the future of Ngele remains uncertain as he prepares for a return to his parent club.
Whether or not Ngele will be an integral part of coach Pitso Mosimane’s plans is still a mystery, but the 52-year-old coach may look to rope Ngele back into the fold as Sundowns contend with yet another campaign without a proper pre-season.
It should also be noted that injuries and a lack of killer instinct in front of goal saw Masandawana fall short in their quest to defend the league title, and considering that Ngele had a successful spell at Wits, he may just be the answer to Sundowns’ woes.
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However, Mosimane would have to sacrifce at least one his foreign internationals to accomodate the 26-year-old attacking midfielder.
Ngele was no doubt pleased with the extra game time at the Braamfontein-based club, and in the 17 appearances he made, the left-footed player bagged three goals and contributed four assists.
If Ngele remains at Sundowns, he will be forced to contend with fierce competition within the side, with the likes of Khama Billiat and Themba Zwane having already cemented their places in Mosimane's team.
While a move to another PSL club still remains a possibility, Sundowns’ asking price for Ngele could prove to be a stumbling block, but perhaps another loan could be what the African champions consider.
He stands no chance of going back to Wits, especially after it became clear that Daylon Claasen, who signed on Thursday, is seen as his replacement by Gavin Hunt.
Ngele is the type of player who would thrive at most of the top clubs in South Africa, including the Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. He offers a passing ability that can break down defences in an instant and also has a knack for scoring some audacious long range drives.
Nevertheless, it's surprising that a player of such promise and talent is not on the radar of some of the country’s biggest clubs, especially when compared to his time at Dikwena where he was seen as the future of Sundowns.
Despite the growing uncertainty surrounding Ngele’s future, with the likes of Teko Modise on his way out and Billiat reluctant to commit to Sundowns in the long term, Ngele could have an important role to play next season which could tempt him to stay.
If not, Ngele would no doubt fit in well at clubs such as SuperSport United, who could lose Mandla Masango or even Cape Town City given his experience and desire to learn from the best players.
