Thabo Matlaba

Thabo "Festival" Matlaba (born 13 December 1987 in Tembisa, Gauteng) is a South African football (soccer) defender for Premier Soccer League club Black Leopards. He is known for his long range shots with both his feet. Although he plays mostly as a left back, Matlaba is naturally right-footed.

Thabo Matlaba
Personal information
Full name Thabo Matlaba
Date of birth (1987-12-13) 13 December 1987
Place of birth Tembisa, South Africa
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 6 12 in)
Playing position(s) Left-back
Club information
Current team
Black Leopards
Number 8
Youth career
Leicester City (South Africa)
Mighty Tigers
M Tigers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Free State Stars 33 (3)
2012–2019 Orlando Pirates 149 (9)
2019– Black Leopards 1 (0)
National team
2011– South Africa 29 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:36, 30 January 2018 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 November 2016

Career statistics

As of 30 January 2018[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Free State Stars 2010–11 Premier Soccer League 273000000273
2011–12 Premier Soccer League 6000000060
Total 333000000333
Orlando Pirates 2011–12 Premier Soccer League 120100000130
2012–13 Premier Soccer League 22110212[lower-alpha 1]0272
2013–14 Premier Soccer League 252504011[lower-alpha 2]2454
2014–15 Premier Soccer League 17120004[lower-alpha 1]1232
2015–16 Premier Soccer League 243503000323
2016–17 Premier Soccer League 24150301[lower-alpha 1]0331
2017–18 Premier Soccer League 151002000171
Total 139919014118319013
Career totals 1721219014118322316
  1. Appearances in MTN 8
  2. Three Appearances in MTN 8 and Eight Appearances in CAF Champions League

International career

He made his debut for South Africa on 14 May 2011 versus Tanzania in an international friendly.[2]

Matlaba scored his first international goal with a 40-yard (37 m) drive in a World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic on 23 March 2013.[3][4]

International goals

Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first.[5]
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.23 March 2013Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa Central African Republic1–02–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Style of play

He is well known for his excellent burst of outstanding overlapping pace,a versatile player or utility player

  1. Thabo Matlaba at Soccerway. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. "Bafana defeat Taifa Stars". Supersport. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  3. Eslick, Daniel (25 March 2013). "South Africa Player of the Week: Thabo Matlaba". Goal.com. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  4. "Thabo Matlaba". national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  5. "T. Matlaba". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
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