Kwanda Mngonyama has signed for Cape Town City from Mamelodi Sundowns in a move that will see Aubrey Ngoma head in the opposite direction, taking yet another cornerstone of last season's success out of the coastal club's squad.
Ngoma's fluent wing play, together with the speed of Lebogang Manyama and the goals of Lehlohonolo Majoro, proved the catalyst for City's third place finish in their inaugural Premier Soccer League season and their qualification for the 2018 African Confederation Cup.
But Manyama headed to Turkey in August to join Konyaspor and Majoro signed earlier this week for South African champions Bidvest Wits.
Ngoma is now set to also make the move after Sundowns persisted with their long-standing overtures for the player despite the fact he has only made a brief cameo appearance this season after knee surgery.
🗣 Coach Benni on Kwanda:
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) December 29, 2017
"When I heard there was a chance for City to land Kwanda I was instantly excited. Mngonyama is a soldier and probably one of the most promising defensive talents to come out of SA in a long time...
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Ngoma tore a ligament in his knee while training with the South African national team in June and did not play until the end of November when he made his comeback in the league against Lamontville Golden Arrows.
He has since had three starts for City but tore a hamstring muscle in their last outing of 2017 against Sundowns.
At 28 and with his sleight frame looking worse for wear after dealing with the rigours of top flight football in South Africa, City are taking a gamble that Ngoma might not be as effective as he was previously proved and are looking to cash in on his value while Sundowns still have a voracious appetite to buy him.
It also means they can strengthened in other departments and Mngonyama's arrival means they have cover should captain Robin Johannes depart in the next days as well.
City have been unable to persuade the 31-year-old Johannes to sign a new contract and the 24-year-old Mngonyama comes as a adequate replacement, plus with time on his side.
"When I heard there was a chance for City to land Kwanda I was instantly excited. Mngonyama is a soldier and probably one of the most promising defensive talents to come out of South Africa in a long time," said coach Benni McCarthy on Friday in a Tweet put out by City.
"Seeing where the club is going, building for the future, this was a key acquisition for us. I can't wait to start working with the young man and get him to where he should be."
The 24-year-old Mngonyama departs Sundowns without playing a game for the club, having spent the last four seasons out on loan at Bidvest Wits and then Maritzburg United. He went back to Sundowns at the start of this season but did not make a single match-day squad.