Sundowns confirm Anele Ngcongca signing

31 August 2016 - 18:15 By Nick Said
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Anele Ngcongca has officially signed for Mamelodi Sundowns, the club confirmed on Wednesday, penning a three-year deal with an option for an extra season.

The Bafana Bafana defender has signed as a free agent after negotiating his release from Belgian side Genk.

Ngcongca can cover in both the right-back and centre-back positions, and also brings leadership to the backline.

Sundowns will be Ngcongca’s first club in the Premier Soccer League after he moved to Genk from then-National First Division side FC Fortune in 2007.

He had nine seasons at Genk, where he is the club’s record-holder for most all-time appearances. He won the league with Genk in the 2010-11 Belgian season and played in both the Uefa Champions League and Uefa Europa League with the club.

Ngcongca spent last season on loan at French Ligue 1 side Troyes after a fallout with Genk coach Peter Maes. Troyes were relegated at the end of the past season.

He was not included in the Bafana squad for the upcoming matches against Mauritania and Egypt, winning the last of his 53 caps against Cameroon in March.

As statement on Downs' website read: " Mamelodi Sundowns have confirmed signing Bafana Bafana right back Anele Ngcongca as part of coach Pitso Mosimane’s bid to strengthen his team ahead of the multiple fronts on which his team will be fighting this season, ending speculation about the player’s destination as several Premier Soccer League clubs were after his signature.

"The deal was finalised on Wednesday morning.

"The 28-year-old Cape Town-born player has been a regular in the national squad.  He started his career at amateur side Aces United, before joining FC Fortune from where he moved to Belgian side Genk in 2007, for whom he made 223 appearances, scoring eight goals.  He was sent out on loan last season to Troyes FC.

"Ncgongca is the most recent signing by the Tshwane giants, after Ivorian Yannick Zakri who joined Sundowns last week, Sibusiso Vilakazi,Lucky Mohomi,Thapelo Morena and Ricardo Nascimento, who came on board earlier in the transfer window.

"The need for more cover at right back arose with the departure of former captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele [to Kaizer Chiefs]."

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