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 (age 39)
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)
2005–2006Reims (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

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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

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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

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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

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International goals

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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
1 26 February 2005 Stade George V, Curepipe, Mauritius   Seychelles 1–0 3–0 2005 COSAFA Cup
2 2–0
3 27 February 2005 Stade George V, Curepipe, Mauritius   Mauritius 1–0 1–0 2005 COSAFA Cup
4 27 January 2008 Tamale Stadium, Tamale, Ghana   Tunisia 1–3 1–3 2008 Africa Cup of Nations
5 28 June 2009 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa   Spain 1–0 2–3 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
6 2–2
7 12 August 2009 Super Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa   Serbia 1–3 1–3 Friendly
8 19 September 2009 Griquas Park, Kimberley, South Africa   Madagascar 1–0 1–0 Friendly
9 3 March 2010 Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa   Namibia 1–1 1–1 Friendly
10 16 May 2010 Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa   Thailand 2–0 4–0 Friendly
11 3–0
12 27 May 2010 Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa   Colombia 2–1 2–1 Friendly
13 31 May 2010 Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa   Guatemala 1–0 5–0 Friendly
14 4–0
15 5 June 2010 Atteridgeville Super Stadium, Atteridgeville, South Africa   Denmark 1–0 1–0 Friendly
16 22 June 2010 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa   France 2–0 2–1 2010 FIFA World Cup
17 11 August 2010 Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa   Ghana 1–0 1–0 Friendly
18 4 September 2010 Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa   Niger 1–0 2–0 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
19 26 March 2011 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa   Egypt 1–0 1–0 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
20 10 August 2011 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa   Burkina Faso 1–0 3–0 Friendly
21 3–0
22 12 November 2011 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa   Ivory Coast 1–1 1–1 Friendly
23 3 June 2012 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa   Ethiopia 1–1 1–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

References

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  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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