Melusi Buthelezi (born 7 March 1998) is a South African soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Orlando Pirates in the Premier Soccer League.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Melusi Nkazimulo Buthelezi | ||
| Date of birth | 7 March 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Nquthu, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Orlando Pirates | ||
| Number | 35 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2020 | Jomo Cosmos | 23 | (0) |
| 2020–2023 | TS Galaxy | 32 | (0) |
| 2024– | Orlando Pirates | 11 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | South Africa | 1 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 March 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 March 2024 | |||
Buthelezi started his senior career with Jomo Cosmos in the National First Division before moving on to TS Galaxy in 2020. While he did not play once during his first season, he entered the starting eleven during the 2021-22 South African Premier Division.[1] Buthelezi also made his international debut for South Africa, when entering as a substitute in a friendly match against Sierra Leone.[2][3]
In the 2022-23 South African Premier Division, Buthelezi kept 10 clean sheets in the 21 games he played.[4] As he left TS Galaxy and was signed by Orlando Pirates, he kept 8 clean sheets in his first 10 games.[5]
Buthelezi was carjacked in 2022 at a petrol station in Soweto, where he and his brother suffered light stab wounds.[6] In February 2024 he was mugged for his belongings, then driven off in his own car. The incident happened in Thokoza. Buthelezi returned to freedom the next day.[7][8][9]
References edit
- ^ Melusi Buthelezi at Soccerway
- ^ Melusi Buthelezi at National-Football-Teams.com
- ^ Mokoena, Itumeleng (1 October 2022). "First national cap and first win for TS Galaxy goalie". Mpumalanga News. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Madyira, Michael (21 May 2023). "Reported Orlando Pirates transfer target Melusi Buthelezi bids farewell to TS Galaxy". Goal. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Mnyandu, Velile (11 December 2023). "Melusi Buthelezi's remarkable start at Orlando Pirates". SABC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ 23 July 2022. "Buthelezi itching for Bafana call-up". FAR Post. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Madyira, Michael (1 March 2024). "Orlando Pirates issue update on goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi's 'traumatic ordeal' after hijacking incident". Goal. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Ngcobo, Khanyisile (1 March 2024). "Pirates goalie hijacked, kidnapped two years after similar incident". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Gibbs, Herman. "TS Galaxy goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi 'stable' after hijacking in Soweto". IOL. Retrieved 27 March 2024.