SAD NEWS : Mamelodi Sundowns coach will be retiring after his pre season matches …

Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates star Aubrey Ngoma has announced his retirement from football as he prepares to move into coaching.

Though reports emerged lately that the left-footed playmaker has resurfaced at University of Pretoria FC after parting ways with SuperSport last year, the player has confirmed that he is no longer playing.

Ngoma, 34, has announced that he is bringing the curtain down on his career and will move on to coaching as he feels football has left him behind.

• “In my head, I’m still 35, I am turning 35 in September. However, the body says otherwise [still feel like I can continue,” Ngoma told Izinja zeGame with Josta Dladla.

  “But I’m at the stage where I look at the football and think maybe it has left me behind or what’s happening now I’m not comfortable with.

  “So, I don’t think I want to be in that space as a player where I feel not comfortable. So, as a player, in my head, I think I’m done,” he continued.

  “Coaching is something I’m considering because now I am helping my friend who coaches in the SAB League.

  “I have been doing it, I think it’s six months now and it’s something that I feel passionate about. It is something that I want to go into because I want to help the young stars by giving back.”

• The former Cape Town City star burst onto the professional scenes at AmaTuks in 2008 under coach Steve Barker. He went on to win the promotion from NFD to the top tier with the team in 2012.

  The Hammanskraal-born winger enjoyed a hugely successful playing career, winning the PSL title three times, two MTN8 trophies and two Telkom Knockout titles with Sundowns and the Citizens, respectively.

  More so, the ex-Buccaneers player has one Bafana Bafana cap to his name. Ngoma has also featured for Black Aces under the late coach, Clive Barker.