Shongwe, who joined the Chilli Boys at the start of the season, was released by the Eastern Cape-based outfit in the new year, along with Thabo Nthethe, Miguel Timm, Thami Sangweni, Nkosinathi Mthiyane and Zaphaniah Mbokoma.
Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits player Shongwe joined United when Dan Malesela was in charge of the team. He and Malesela worked together at the School of Excellence and at Sundowns, so he was happy to be with a coach he knew well.
However, Malesela did not last long and made way for Eric Tinkler. Tinkler was also not in the hotseat for long, getting replaced by Joel Masutha early in December. Masutha was likewise fired this month as Clinton Larsen was handed the reins at the relegation-threatened club.
“I was so surprised, but I said ‘okay it’s fine’. I did not even ask, because I just said sometimes in life you need to move on. There’s no need for me to hold on and force things. But I was playing, which is why I was surprised and disappointed at the same time.”