Celimpilo Ngema (born 12 September 1997) is a South African soccer player who plays as a midfielder for AmaZulu in the South African Premier Division.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 September 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Melmoth, South Africa | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | AmaZulu | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2020 | Uthongathi | 99 | (28) |
| 2020–2023 | TTM/Marumo Gallants | 80 | (3) |
| 2023– | AmaZulu | 24 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 August 2024 | |||
He was born in Melmoth.[1] He was on the Uthongathi team that won promotion from the 2016–17 SAFA Second Division. Ngema also received a Player of the Tournament as well as a Young Player of the Tournament award.[2] The club aimed to fight for promotion from the National First Division.[3] He was on trial with Chippa United in the winter of 2019,[4] and by the 2019–20 season, Ngema was considered Uthongathi's star player.[5]
Ngema left Uthongathi in 2020. As Chippa United reportedly made a R150,000 bid, the deal was not finalized, and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) bought Ngema instead.[6] With TTM, Ngema helped win the 2020–21 Nedbank Cup, and proceeded to lose the 2021–22 Nedbank Cup final. He remained in the squad after the club license was purchased by Marumo Gallants, and played the 2021–22 and 2022-23 CAF Confederation Cup for Gallants, scoring several goals.[1][7]
With half a year left of his contract, Ngema was reported to have signed a "pre-contract" with AmaZulu during the winter of 2023. There were still rumours of a transfer to other clubs. Marumo Gallants also ended up being relegated from the 2022-23 South African Premier Division,[8][9][10] though Ngema was crowned as Player of the Year in the club's internal end-season gala.[11] The move to AmaZulu went through in the summer of 2023. Ngema and the club notably had a slow start to the 2023-24 South African Premier Division.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b Austin Ditlhobolo (29 November 2022). "Ngema: Marumo Gallants star and Motaung comment on reported Kaizer Chiefs interest". Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "Our first NFD season will be a good test – Uthongathi coach". SAFA. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Ndebele, Sihle (5 March 2019). "Away form threatens to derail Uthongathi". The Sowetan. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Mlotha, Sipho (2 January 2019). "Chippa United run the rule over Uthongathi FC attacker Celimpilo Ngema". Kick Off. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Asmal, Thahir (10 September 2019). "Ferreira hints clubs like Uthongathi FC have to sell players to survive". SABC New. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Mlotha, Sipho (2 October 2020). "TTM sign Uthongathi FC midfielder Celimpilo Ngema". Kick Off. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Celimpilo Ngema at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ Madlala, Robin-Duke (2 January 2023). "Ngema Signs With AmaZulu On A Pre-Contract". iDiski Times. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Makonco, Sinethemba (12 January 2023). "Malesela Makes Suprise [sic] Ngema Claim". iDiski Times. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "Gallants set to lose Ngema after relegation?". The Citizen. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Sithole, Sinethemba (22 May 2023). "Celimpilo Ngema set to join new club on a free transfer". FAR Post. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Madlala, Robin-Duke (30 August 2023). "AmaZulu's Struggles Not Helping Ngema To Reignite His Form". iDiski Times. Retrieved 29 March 2024.