Leopards claw Tsotso out of Downs' misery
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday June 21, 2019 11:46
Tsotso signed for Leopards after enduring a frustrating spell at champions, Mamelodi Sundowns. Ngele left for South Africa in 2012 to join the now defunct, Platinum Stars.
He went on to be a key member in the Stars team where he made 46 league appearances while scoring 15 goals in two years.
His performances caught the eye of the moneyed Sundowns and he signed on a five-year deal, but spent the first season on loan at Stars.
During his loan spell, the left-footed attacker made 21 appearances while finding the back of the net four times.
He arrived at Choorklop in July 2015 where he found playing minutes hard to come by in the star-studded Downs team. In the first season he made just three starts in 10 appearances, scoring a single goal. He was then shipped on loan to Bidvest Wits at the start of the 2016-2017 season.
The 28-year-old went on to make most of his loan spell under Gavin Hunt as they won their first ever league title, where Ngele made 18 appearances, scoring three goals.
But still he struggled with game time at Sundowns upon his return from loan. He competed with Khama Billiat, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Themba Zwane and Keegan Dolly for a starting berth.
Ngele was once again forced out on loan in the middle of the 2017-2018 season to SuperSport United where he proved his quality with a goal in three starts of his eight appearances.
Injuries hampered Tsotso’s quest for a starting berth at the start of last season. He was then deemed surplus to requirements by coach Pitso Mosimane as he was relegated to the reserve side.
At the start of the year, Tsotso was left idling as he sort refuge at his former side, Township Rollers, where he trained to keep fit.
Despite being one of the finest local football exports, Tsotso only played a minute under Mosimane last season. In his five-year spell he has played just 11 games, scoring a single goal for Downs.
A move to Lidhodha Dhuvha will give the attacker a chance to resurrect his career.
He remains Botswana’s finest football export with two league and three-cup titles to his name. Tsotso has scored 24 goals in 104 league games in the Absa Premiership over the last seven seasons.
Ngele reportedly took a pay cut to move to Leopards. He is reportedly earning just below R100,000 compared to his Sundowns’ salary that was over P150,000.