Mongalo quietly disappeared while still attached to Leopards during the 2012/13 season when they were relegated from the PSL, and has been out of football for the past 18 months due to the injury.
snl24.com/kickoff tracked down the 29-year-old after getting wind of that he could be faced with a forced early retirement.
“I was injured in 2012 while playing for Black Leopards and my knee ligaments were damaged,” Mongalo says. “Doctors have doubts whether I will be able to play again, though nothing is confirmed as yet.
“They have told me that at this stage my chances of playing again are slim, but I am still holding hope because I still need to go for one final check-up that will clear up everything.”
Mongalo has already undergone two operations and claims to have used his own funds after Leopards abandoned him following the injury. It has led to him taking the club to the PSL DRC via the South African Football Players’ Union.
“What hurts most is that Leopards dumped me and have never supported me since this injury, despite the fact that I was injured while doing duty for them.
“I paid for the two operations out of my own pocket and have also had to meet all other medical costs, travelling to Johannesburg from Limpopo using my own money.
“Actually once I got injured I started to have salary problems with the club until the Players’ Union lawyers stepped in. I now have a case of breach of contract with the club. What also hurts is that this is a club that benefited so much out of me when they sold me to SuperSport United.
“The public always points fingers at players for being reckless and irresponsible when they don’t really know what kind of treatment we get from some of the clubs,” says Mongalo.
As his playing future hangs in the balance, the speedy forward has since decided to go back to school to supplement on the subjects that he had failed in Matric.
“If football fails my life must still continue and it is for that reason that I have decided to re-write all the subjects I failed in Matric. I am finishing writing my exams next week and I am definite that I will pass because I had all the time to study. However, for now I am just hoping for the best from football and I will be happy if I get a doctor to rescue me out of this,” he says.
Mongalo played his last match in December 2012 when he scored for Leopards against Free State Stars at Peter Mokaba Stadium.
In response to Mongalo’s claims that will be tabled in detail at the PSL DRC, Leopards’ legal representative in this matter, Bryge Wachipa, an attorney at Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs, confirms there is a case that is being heard at the PSL Chambers.
“There is a case involving the player who has made allegations against the club which we are opposing and that matter is being heard at the PSL DRC.
“The matter has been postponed indefinitely and since it is still being heard at the DRC we will not be debating about it in the media a ruling is reached,” Wachipa tells snl24.com/kickoff.
snl24.com/kickoff has also gathered that there is a procedural matter that they are contesting with regards to Mongalo’s case.
