SOUTH African premiership side Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed that long-serving midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of June.
Nengomasha’s almost 11 year stay with the club comes to and end after the player joined the club in January 2002. Nicknamed ‘The General’, the player went on to don the gold and black 324 times winning back to back titles between 2003-2005 and numerous cup competitions.
During the club’s Players Awards in May he was honoured with a prestigious award, the Chairman’s Special Award by the club’s executive chairman, Kaizer Motaung.
Motaung paid a glowing tribute to the Zimbabwe international.
Speaking on the club’s website Motaung said; “I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the club to thank Tinashe Nengomasha for the contribution he has made to the club since joining us as a youngster back in 2002. From the first day he came to the club he was someone you knew you could trust and would never let you down on the pitch.
He always carried himself as a professional and his dedication on the pitch was second to none. He was a fighter and earned respect not only from his teammates but his peers in the Premier League and fans alike.
Parting ways is not always easy but all good things do come to an end. Change alone always comes with mixed feelings, but we are very confident that Tinashe will succeed where ever he goes to continue with his career.
He was a great servant for the club and we will forever cherish the years he spent with us and we would like to wish him all the best in his new endeavours,” said Motaung.
Nengomasha thanked the club for giving him an opportunity to play for them.
“I am grateful to the club and the management for giving me an opportunity to come here. I would also like to thank the fans in the manner in which they welcomed me to the club.
"I will always have good memories of the time I have spent at Naturena. We fought so many battles together and the fans were always behind the club.
"I learnt a lot from the likes of Patrick Mabedi, Brian Baloyi, Cyril Nzama and each and every player that I have played with. I thank them for the contribution they have made in my life."
"I would like to wish the club all the best in the new season. I wish the new players well and at the end, I know they will take the club back to where it belongs…all the best to each and every one and thank you for the wonderful memories,” added a visibly emotional Nengomasha.
Nengomasha, who in the past decade made the number 8. jersey his own, won the PSL Player’s Player of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year back in 2003/2004 season.
He was also part of the team that won the Coca Cola Cup, SAA Supa8, Absa Cup, Telkom Knockout (three times), league title (twice).