Bloemfontein Celtic have confirmed the release of defender Alfred Ndengane, who has recently been linked with a move to Orlando Pirates.

Siwelele have finally agreed to release the defender from his contract after the club met with Ndengane’s representatives to resolve the matter.

The versatile defender, who has been linked with the Buccaneers recently, has now become a free agent and can hold talks with any club interested in capturing his signature.

Celtic CEO Khumbulani Konco released the following statement on their official website: ‘It is incredibly painful losing a player of Ndengane’s calibre; however, after speaking to him for months trying to convince him to stay, we realised he was adamant about his request to be released. I must emphasise though, that through negotiations for him to extend his stay and his ultimate decision to depart, there was no bad blood, but rather amicable discussions through his manager.

‘We, therefore, wish him all the best for his future endeavours and wholeheartedly thank him for his professional conduct and contribution towards the brand Celtic.’

Meanwhile, Konco also announced that defender Tshepo Rikhotso has extended his stay at the club after signing a three-year deal with an option of a further year.

‘He [Rikhotso] was matured and introduced to professional football by Celtic and we were happy when he, through his manager, committed to the team until 2023. In football, you lose some but we must always try to keep the core of the team intact,’ he concluded.

The utility defender’s deal was due to expire at the end of the current season.

Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix