DStv Premiership club Justin Shonga nearly joined before moving to Georgia
Former Orlando Pirates striker Justin Shonga came close to joining a DStv Premiership club before securing a move to FC Gagra in Georgia.
The well-travelled attacker attracted interest in the PSL at the start of the 2023/24 campaign but ended up joining FC Gagra. The 26-year-old has already played nine games for his new club in Georgia and scored one goal.
Shonga was brought to South Africa by Orlando Pirates in 2017 and went on to make over 70 appearances for the Buccaneers, scoring 16 goals and providing 16 assists.
The Zambian international parted ways with Pirates at the end of the 2019/20 season. He joined Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila who had just bought the status of Bidvest Wits.
Shonga spent only one season with TTM before joining Cape Town City where he also stayed for just one season.
The 26-year-old talisman was also in the colours of Ismaily and Sekhukhune United before returning to his boyhood club Nkwazi FC.
JUSTIN SHONGA CAME CLOSE TO JOINING CHIPPA UNITED
With Shonga showing impressive form in his second stint at Nkwazi, he was on the radar of Chippa United.
“Justin Shonga came very close to joining Chippa United in the off-season,” a source told FARPost.
“So Chippa wanted him at the same time that he was wanted by a club in Georgia. I guess for him, it was just choosing Europe over PSL.”
The Chilli Boys managed to sign another ex-Pirates forward, Augustine Mulenga who was in the books of Naspa Stars in Zambia.
Mulenga and Shonga formed a formidable striking force under Milutin Sredojević at Pirates a few years ago.
Meanwhile, Mulenga has hit the ground running with the Gqeberha-based side after featuring in all nine opening league games for the club.
Chippa United is currently sitting seventh on the league table with 13 points. They won three games, drew four and lost two times.
RELATED STORY: Justine Shonga reflects on his Sekhukhune debut