Upington City FC have completed the signing of former Mamelodi Sundowns winger Jabulani Shongwe for the 2024/25 season.
The Northern Cape-based side began their season this past weekend with a 1-0 defeat against JDR Stars in the Motsepe Foundation Championship at Giant Stadium in Soshanguve.
Shongwe was in the starting line-up for Upington City after making a switch from Championship rivals Pretoria Callies.
The attacking midfielder joined Callies during the 2023/24 campaign after spending the whole of the 2022/23 campaign as a free agent. Before signing with Callies, Shongwe was in the colours of the Limpopo-based side Venda FC in the 2021/22 season.
The experienced star made 19 appearances in the league in the previous season and recorded two goals under his name. In his stint with Venda FC in the NFD, Shongwe featured in 15 games in all competitions and registered one goal.
Meanwhile, the 34-year-old was in the books of Mamelodi Sundowns between 2010 and 2014. He scored one goal and provided two assists in his 28 appearances at Chloorkop.
JABULANI SHONGWE SEEN AS REPLACEMENT FOR KELETSO MAKGALWA
Shongwe has vast experience in SA top-flight football, having played for teams such as Chippa United, Golden Arrows, Highlands Park, Bidvest Wits, and Sundowns.
The former SA’s junior international was part of the Bidvest Wits squad that won the historic league title during the 2016/17 season under the leadership of coach Gavin Hunt.
Shongwe is expected to fill the big shoes of Keletso Makgalwa who has since moved to Betway Premiership side Sekhukhune United in the current transfer.
Makgalwa spent one season at Upington City FC after signing in October 2023 on a free transfer following his exit from Masandawana.
The pacey winger scored 11 goals in 23 matches as Upington pushed for promotion to the elite league last season.
After the start of the new campaign, ‘The Gucci Boys’ will be looking to make a strong push for automatic promotion to the Premiership.
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