Katlego Mphela

Katlego Abel Mphela (born 29 November 1984) is a South African retired professional footballer who played as a forward.

Katlego Mphela
Personal information
Full name Katlego Abel Mphela[1]
Date of birth (1984-11-29) 29 November 1984
Place of birth Brits, South Africa
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Early Birds
Arcadia Shepherds
Orlando Pirates
Jomo Cosmos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Jomo Cosmos 2 (1)
2004–2006 Strasbourg 19 (5)
2005–2006 → Reims (loan) 5 (2)
2006–2008 SuperSport United 62 (10)
2008–2014 Mamelodi Sundowns 116 (48)
2014–2015 Kaizer Chiefs 15 (3)
2015–2017 Royal Eagles 28 (9)
Total 247 (78)
International career
2005–2007 South Africa U-23 7 (5)
2005–2013 South Africa 53 (23)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Mphela, a product of Jomo Cosmos, played in France for RC Strasbourg Alsace and Stade de Reims, both with limited success.

After returning home he turned out for SuperSport United for the 2007–08 season before joining Mamelodi Sundowns the following season. He then finished the 2009–10 season with 17 goals in 30 games which made him the league's top goalscorer. He won the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot and was voted PSL Players' Player of the Season.

Mphela joined Chiefs in 2014. He made his debut in a 2–2 draw against Maritzburg United.[2] He scored his first goal for Chiefs against Free State Stars but it was cancelled out almost immediately in a 1–1 draw.[3] Mphela scored on the last league match of the season in the 55th minute against AmaZulu in a 3–0 win.[4]

After two years out of action, 34-year old Mphela announced his retirement in August 2019.[5] He also announced, that he would begin as a coach and that he already was coaching youth players.

International career

Mphela scored a brace on his debut for the South Africa national team against Seychelles on 26 February 2005.

He has represented South Africa 53 times, scoring 23 goals. He scored South Africa's only goal in the 3–1 defeat against Tunisia in the 2008 African Nations Cup.

Perhaps Mphela's greatest moment came in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup third-place playoff against Spain. Coming in as a substitute Mphela produced arguably the goal of the tournament with a free kick from 30 yards, which turned out to be the last action of the 90 mins, sending the game into extra time.

Mphela was included in South Africa's 23-man final squad for the 2010 World Cup. He played in the inaugural match against Mexico, which ended 1–1. Next, the Bafana Bafana played against Uruguay, but they lost the game 3–0. In their final group game, he scored the 2nd goal in a 2–1 win against France as South Africa exited the competition.[6]

Mphela opened the scoring in South Africa's first international match following the 2010 World Cup putting South Africa up 1–0 against Ghana.

Mphela scored the winner for South Africa against Egypt in the 93rd minute with a perfect finish that saw the North Africans beaten by South Africa for the first time in competitive football between the two countries and increased the hopes of qualification.

Mphela also participated in the 2013 African Cup of Nations tournament.

Style of play

His style of play includes challenging defenders with both pace and strength but he can still play deep as a supporting striker. He is nicknamed "Killer" for his finishing ability.[7]

Career statistics

International goals
Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mphela goal.[8]
List of international goals scored by Katlego Mphela
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
126 February 2005Stade George V, Curepipe, Mauritius Seychelles1–03–02005 COSAFA Cup
22–0
327 February 2005Stade George V, Curepipe, Mauritius Mauritius1–01–02005 COSAFA Cup
427 January 2008Tamale Stadium, Tamale, Ghana Tunisia1–31–32008 Africa Cup of Nations
528 June 2009Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa Spain1–02–32009 FIFA Confederations Cup
62–2
712 August 2009Super Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa Serbia1–31–3Friendly
819 September 2009Griquas Park, Kimberley, South Africa Madagascar1–01–0Friendly
93 March 2010Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa Namibia1–11–1Friendly
1016 May 2010Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa Thailand2–04–0Friendly
113–0
1227 May 2010Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa Colombia2–12–1Friendly
1331 May 2010Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa Guatemala1–05–0Friendly
144–0
155 June 2010Atteridgeville Super Stadium, Atteridgeville, South Africa Denmark1–01–0Friendly
1622 June 2010Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa France2–02–12010 FIFA World Cup
1711 August 2010Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa Ghana1–01–0Friendly
184 September 2010Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa Niger1–02–02012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
1926 March 2011Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Egypt1–01–02012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2010 August 2011Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Burkina Faso1–03–0Friendly
213–0
2212 November 2011Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa Ivory Coast1–11–1Friendly
233 June 2012Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa Ethiopia1–11–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification

References
  1. "K.t Mphela". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  2. www.realnet.co.uk. "'Killer' Mphela happy with Kaizer Chiefs debut". Kick Off. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  3. "Kaizer Chiefs 1-1 Free State Stars: Mphela scores but Amakhosi dealt final blow - Yahoo Sports Singapore". sg.sports.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014.
  4. "HOME".
  5. ‘Killer’ Mphela Makes Shock Announcement!, soccerladuma.co.za, 7 August 2019
  6. Bevan, Chris (22 June 2010). "France 1–2 South Africa". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  7. "Mphela's 'killer' instinct lifts South Africa". FIFA.com. FIFA. 26 March 2011. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  8. "Mphela, Katlego". National Football Teams. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
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