Mati Zata

Mati Zata (born 23 June 2000) is a Zimbabwean footballer midfielder who last played for Scottish League One club Dumbarton.

Mati Zata
Personal information
Full name Matifadza Zata
Date of birth (2000-06-23) 23 June 2000
Place of birth Zimbabwe
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2012–2013 Alloa Athletic
2013–2018 Rangers
2018–2019 Dundee United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Rangers 0 (0)
2017–2018 → East Kilbride (loan)
2018–2019 Dundee United 0 (0)
2019 → Tayport (loan)
2019–2020 Dumbarton 3 (0)
2019–2020 → Rossvale (loan)
National team‡
2017 Scotland U16 2 (0)
2019- Zimbabwe U23 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:51, 11 April 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10:17, 10 August 2019 (UTC)

Early life

Zata, originally from Zimbabwe, moved to Scotland at 4 years of age, living in Alloa, Scotland with his family. He has represented his country of Zimbabwe at under-23 level.

Club career

Alloa Athletic

Zata joined the youth system at Alloa Athletic in 2012. He and made his under-20s debut for the club before his 13th birthday. Zata's footballing ability quickly caught the eye of Scottish Premier league club Rangers after only a year at Alloa Athletic.

Rangers

In 2013, he joined Rangers, scoring 24 goals in his first year as a midfielder at the club. Zata quickly established himself as an important member of the Rangers youth Academy. During his time at Rangers, Zata was called up to represent the Scottish National Team under 16s. Zata earned a 2-year scholarship whilst at the club at 16 years old and also went on loan to lowland league club East Kilbride to gain valuable first team experience.[1]

Dundee United

In 2018, Zata joined Dundee United on an 18-month contract.[2] During this time Zata captained the reserve side to victory in the Oban Cup. Zata earned his debut in a 2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup tie with St Johnstone under-20s, making a substitute appearance after only two minutes. Zata earned praise from the club's supporters after his debut match due to his combative style in midfield which helped the team come from behind to win the match 3–2.[3] Zata made his second appearance for the club in a 1–1 draw against Alloa Athletic in the same competition.[4] He joined Tayport on loan in March 2019.[5]

Dumbarton

Zata signed for Scottish League One club Dumbarton in July 2019, having scored the winner against former club Dundee United whilst playing as a trialist.[6] He played just ten minutes of league football for the club before joining SJFA West Region Premiership side Rossvale on loan in November 2019.[7] While at Rossvale, he was the target of alleged racial abuse during a match against Rutherglen Glencairn.[8] Dumbarton's extensive injury problems led to the club recalling Zata from loan in January 2020.[9] After making just two more appearances for the club, both in January, Zata was released in March 2020 days after the Scottish football season was suspended due to the Coronavirus crisis.[10]

International career

Zata was born in Zimbabwe but has dual nationality with Scottish and represented Scotland at under-16 level and Zimbabwe at under-23 level. In 2017, Zata represented Scottish National Team Under-16s in a double header match against Switzerland where he played both matches. In March 2019 Zata was called up to represent Zimbabwe Under-23s in the African Cup of Nations competition. Zata played both matches against Mozambique national football team earning 2 caps for Zimbabwe.[11]

Career statistics
As of 22:51, 18 January 2020 (UTC)
Club statistics
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dundee United 2018–19 Scottish Championship0000002020
Total 0000002020
Dumbarton 2019–20 Scottish League One 3 0 1 0 4 0 1 0 9 0
Career total 30104030110

    References
    1. Thomson, Paul (7 September 2017). "Rangers kid Mati Zata: "I want to make a name for myself at East Kilbride"". dailyrecord.
    2. "Dundee United sign former Rangers youngster Mati Zata". Daily Record. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
    3. "Zata zones in on greater involvement". Dundee United Football Club. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
    4. Duthie, Tom (12 September 2018). "Long-term injury makes Dundee United captain's heart fonder for the game". Evening Telegraph. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
    5. "Mati Zata loaned to Tayport JFC". Dundee United Football Club. 2 March 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
    6. Fullarton, Donald (11 July 2019). "SONS SIGN FOUR". Dumbarton Football Club.
    7. Galloway, Andy (22 November 2019). "PLAYERS GO OUT ON LOAN". Dumbarton Football Club.
    8. Gallacher, Liz (3 January 2020). "Racist abuse hurled at teen player with Bishopbriggs junior football team from terraces". Kirkintilloch Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
    9. Clarke, Fraser (10 January 2020). "Duffy admits he needs to add to his depleted Dumbarton squad". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
    10. "Dumbarton Football Club - MATI ZATA LEAVES DFC". www.dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
    11. "INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR MATI ZATA". Dundee United Football Club.


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